MELTON Council has slammed the distribution of a flyer which it claims is confusing residents about controversial changes to rural rates.
The council said that despite phone numbers directing residents to call mayor Justin Mammarella and Cr Renata Cugliari, the flyer was not endorsed by the council.
The flyer did not say who was responsible for its distribution and no person or group has claimed responsibility.
Cr Mammarella said the flyer was “mischievous and misleading”.
The flyer asks: ‘Residents of Melton, why are you paying higher council rates than your fellow Victorians?’
It also reproduces a list of rate increases based on a $500,000 property in other municipalities.
The council’s chief executive, Kel Tori, said the flyer had presented data out of context.
“The press article that accompanied the table that is used in the flyer stated that the average value of a house in Boroondara was $950,000, compared to Melton $314,000.
“A $500,000 house is considered high end of the market in Melton and very low end of the market in a number of the municipalities mentioned in the table,” Mr Tori said. He said Melton’s average rates and charges in 2011-12 were $1547. “The lowest in the state are Loddon Shire at $1015, the highest are Nillumbik at $2010.”
He said Melton was mid-range in rates and charges and the flyer’s contention was demonstrably inaccurate. The council was concerned the authors of the flyers had not identified themselves, when it could be argued that it was printed electoral material and could be in breach of the Local Government Act.
