There has been a $40 increase in a community levy for those planning to build homes in Ballarat's fast expanding western suburbs.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The fee went up from $1,150 to $1,190 as of July 1, an increase of 3.5 per cent.
Terry Demeo, the council's director of environment and infrastructure, said the community levy was part of budgeting to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population.
Homeowners building a new home in a growth area have to pay the Community Infrastructure Levy before a building permit is issued. A developer can also pay the levy on the homeowner's behalf, which council says it actively encourages.
The money collected is used to fund community rooms, kindergartens, early years' hubs, maternal and child health rooms, as well as libraries and indoor recreational facilities.
Developers are also required to pay a levy for the Ballarat West Growth Area pegged to the Producer Price Index, which takes into account the fluctuating costs of materials.
The developer funds are earmarked for civil infrastructure such as drainage, roads, intersections and recreational spaces.
See how Alfredton has changed:
Mr Demeo said the council had projected around $250 million for council-related infrastructure in the Ballarat West Growth Area, which is eventually expected to house more than 40,000 people.
Around 80 per cent of that is due to come from community and developer levies, with the developer levy accounting for the "lion's share" of the funding, Mr Demeo said.
Mr Demeo told The Courier that the council proactively seeks the 20 per cent of remaining funding required for infrastructure projects.
The projects funded by the levies are prioritised and assessed each year as part of the budget process.
It is only developments in the Ballarat West Growth Area that are subject to the community and developer levies in the city. There are currently no plans to introduce anything similar for in-fill developments in the CBD.
Have you signed up to The Courier's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.