Sometimes residents ask Council to seal or upgrade roads, or fund the construction of new infrastructure like drainage, kerbs, channels and footpaths. To manage these requests, Council uses a Special Charge Scheme (SCS), as outlined in the Local Government Act 1989. Through the SCS, property owners who live next to the upgrades help pay the costs. Council contributes to the cost when there is Council/crown land abutting the location of the proposed works, and when the works are seen to benefit the broader community.

Special Charge Scheme Policy

This is the first time that Council will have a formal policy for the SCS. The draft Policy aims to:

• make sure the process is clear and fair for everyone
• ensure equal opportunities and consistency when applying the SCS
• adapt the scheme to suit the community’s needs
• encourage residents to get involved and share their views
• use Council resources effectively for investigating and setting up the scheme.

Take a look at the draft Special Charge Scheme Policy, then complete the survey to tell us what you think about Council's approach to the Special Charge Scheme.

Have your say until 15 May 2025 and click '+ Follow' at the top of the page to stay up-to-date on the project.