Politics
Moonee Ponds Voters Decide $85 Annual Levy for Three New Facilities
Voters will decide on a proposed levy that would add an average of $85 annually to residential rates to fund three new local facilities.
How we reported this
The Moonee Ponds City Council has placed the Community Infrastructure Levy on the October ballot. The measure would authorise a 1.2 percent increase in property rates for five years to pay for a new library branch, an expanded community centre on Mount Alexander Road and upgrades to two existing sports grounds.
The referendum comes after the council recorded a $3.1 million shortfall in its 2025-26 capital works budget for community buildings. Council documents state that existing reserves cover only 40 percent of the listed projects, leaving the remainder dependent on new revenue or deferred construction.
Effects on Local Households and Services
Under the levy a property assessed at the median rateable value of $720,000 would pay an extra $85 per year. Council finance staff estimate the additional revenue would total $2.8 million annually and would be spent on construction contracts awarded to firms based inside the municipality. Residents without children would still contribute the same amount as families, since the levy applies uniformly to all rateable properties.
Policy analysts at the Moonee Ponds Chamber of Commerce note that the levy would shift the cost of new facilities from general revenue to a dedicated rate line. They point out that the council’s long-term financial plan already assumes a 2.5 percent annual rate rise for inflation; the levy would sit on top of that increase.
Next Steps for Voters
The ballot paper will present a single yes-or-no question. If approved, the levy takes effect from 1 July 2027 and cannot be altered without another referendum. The council has scheduled three public information sessions at the Moonee Ponds Town Hall on 22 July, 5 August and 19 August. Voting materials will be posted to all ratepayers by 15 September.