Seniors won’t retire from rate fight

CASEY retirement village residents say the fight to reduce their rates is not over, despite a “disappointing” report from the council.
Chairman of the committee fighting the rates, Les Smith, said the council’s report on the possibility of reducing their rates was not ideal, but provided opportunities to discuss the matter further with the council.
“It was disappointing, but the door has been left open on several points,” Mr Smith said.
Residents of all the 13 retirement villages in Casey are campaigning for lower rates as they say their homes have been unfairly valued.
The residents said their fight was just because the council’s only cost was to collect rubbish, and retirement village residents paid their own weekly service fees for maintenance in their villages.
Mr Smith said residents would continue to work with the council. “A meeting is to be held to try and find a way forward in the next few weeks.”
The residents were left in limbo after the council report into their pleas noted that “council’s thorough review of its rating strategy did not identify any anomalies as they relate to retirement villages and their residences”.
Casey councillor Daniel Mulino said the the report was a useful negotiation starting point.