Wyndham Vale Ballot Measure on Infrastructure Levy: What Local Families Will Pay and What They'll Get

Wyndham Vale residents will face a direct choice on July 28 when they vote on whether to approve a new infrastructure levy that would fund roads, water systems and community facilities across the municipality over the next ten years. The measure would impose a charge on property assessments, with households in the $400,000 to $600,000 range projected to pay an additional $180 to $320 per year, according to council estimates released last week.

The referendum comes as Wyndham Vale grapples with ageing infrastructure and rapid residential growth that has strained local services. The council released a report in May showing that water mains in the eastern suburbs date from 1978 and require replacement within five years to avoid service disruptions. Road maintenance across the municipality is currently underfunded by $4.2 million annually, the same report noted, leaving potholes unfilled and drainage systems inadequate during heavy rainfall.

If approved, the levy would generate $38 million over the ten-year period, with $14 million dedicated to water and sewerage infrastructure, $16 million to road upgrades and maintenance, and $8 million to community facilities including upgrades to the Wyndham Vale Recreation Centre and construction of a new library in the Riverside precinct. The council stated that without the levy, these projects would be delayed or scaled back, affecting service delivery across the municipality.

Who Bears the Cost, Who Benefits

The charge would apply differently depending on property value and land use. Residential properties would be assessed on a sliding scale, with the heaviest burden on homes valued above $800,000. Commercial and industrial properties in the northern business district would be charged at a separate rate, calculated as 1.2 times the residential rate per dollar of assessed value. Vacant land and agricultural holdings would be exempt unless they are rezoned for development within the ten-year period.

Renters would likely see indirect impacts through landlords potentially passing costs forward in rent increases, though this is not guaranteed by law. Pensioners and disability support recipients qualify for a 50 percent reduction in the levy charge if their annual income falls below $38,000, according to provisions in the ballot measure. The council projects approximately 1,200 Wyndham Vale households will qualify for this concession.

Implementation and Next Steps

The referendum requires a simple majority vote to pass. If approved, the levy would commence on July 1, 2027, and appear as a line item on property tax notices thereafter. Households would have until August 31 each year to pay the charge or negotiate a payment plan through the council's rates office. The council would establish an independent Infrastructure Committee to oversee project spending and publish quarterly progress reports online.

The ballot guide, released by the Electoral Commission on July 3, includes a detailed cost breakdown, eligibility criteria for the pensioner concession, and contact details for the council's rates inquiry line at 03 8734 5100. Residents who are unsure how the levy would affect their property can use an online calculator on the Wyndham Vale Council website, updated through July 25. Early voting opens July 21 at the Civic Centre on Chapel Street and three neighbourhood polling locations across the municipality.