Mentone Council Approves Road Levy, Recycling Changes Starting February 2027

Mentone City Council voted 6-3 on Tuesday evening to approve a 3.8 percent special infrastructure levy on residential rates, alongside a separate motion overhauling the municipality's kerbside recycling program. Both decisions passed after more than two hours of debate at the Mentone Civic Centre chambers. The levy will appear on the October quarter rates notices, giving residents roughly 90 days before they feel the first direct cost impact.

The timing matters. The council's own asset management report, tabled at Tuesday's meeting, found that 34 percent of Mentone's sealed local roads have moved into the "poor" or "very poor" condition categories over the past four years, driven partly by deferred maintenance during two consecutive budget freezes. The recycling overhaul responds to a separate problem: contamination rates in Mentone's yellow-lid bins reached 22 percent in the 2025-26 financial year, above the regional benchmark of 14 percent, which has cost the council penalty fees under its current processing contract.

What the Levy Means for Households and Small Businesses

For a median-value residential property in Mentone, the 3.8 percent infrastructure levy translates to an additional $94 per year on current assessed figures, according to the council's budget papers circulated before Tuesday's session. Commercial properties on Mentone's high street precinct, assessed at a higher rate multiplier, are projected to pay an average of $310 more annually. The funds are quarantined in a dedicated Infrastructure Renewal Reserve and cannot be redirected to general operations, under the terms of the motion as passed. Council officers say the reserve is expected to reach $2.1 million within 18 months, enough to begin the first resurfacing contract on the Bayside Drive and Ormond Esplanade corridors, which ranked highest for pedestrian and cyclist risk in the engineering assessment presented to councillors.

The recycling changes take effect from 1 February 2027. From that date, Mentone households will shift from fortnightly yellow-lid collection to a weekly service, while the green organics bin moves to fortnightly. The council says the swap is expected to reduce contamination penalties under the processing contract and, over a full year, save approximately $180,000 net after the cost of the increased collection runs. Residents who currently rely on the fortnightly yellow-lid schedule to manage bin storage, particularly those in smaller properties along the Railway Parade and Como Street corridors, will need to adjust their routines. The council's waste education team is expected to begin a letterbox information campaign in November.

Next Steps and the Longer Timeline

Neither decision takes full effect immediately. The levy requires a formal amendment to the council's rating strategy document, which officers say will be advertised for a 28-day public comment period beginning 21 July. If no objections trigger a review, the amended strategy is expected to be sealed by late August, clearing the path for the October billing cycle. Local advocates for renters note that, unlike owner-occupiers, tenants do not receive rates notices directly and may not be aware of cost pressures that landlords could pass through in future lease negotiations.

The recycling overhaul carries its own administrative calendar. The council must formally vary its existing processing contract before 30 September 2026 and issue a new collection tender by the same date. Council officers told the chamber they are confident the procurement timeline is achievable but acknowledged that a delay in contract execution could push the February start date to April. Residents seeking updates can track both items through the council's project register, which is publicly accessible on the Mentone City Council website and updated monthly. The next ordinary meeting, scheduled for 11 August, is expected to receive a progress report on both the rating strategy amendment and the recycling tender.