Elwood man’s Ruskin St pool plans triggers ‘absurd’ and pricey public open space contribution fee

An Elwood dad who bought his neighbour’s house so he could expand his backyard and put in a pool for his kids thought he’d gone through all the right channels — but his plans triggered a ludicrous fee he never saw coming.

Paul Jones with wife Jane and sons Jesse and Billie. Picture: Wayne Taylor

An Elwood father could be stung a whopping $200,000 in council fees to put a pool in his own backyard.

Paul Jones has lived in his Ruskin St home for nearly a decade and last November bought his neighbour’s property with a view to renting out the house and freeing up more space in his own backyard, to build a pool for his two young children to enjoy.

But plans hit a snag when he was told shifting the fence line between the two lots meant he would have to pay a public open space contribution — a whopping five per cent of the total value of the property.

“I’m a family man wanting to put a pool in for his two kids, not a developer trying to stick six townhouses on the block,” he said.

Port Phillip Council Acting Mayor Louise Crawford said the need for the contribution was triggered because the site could be subdivided in the future.

“In this case, (the) council considers each lot could be further subdivided — which means (an) exemption does not apply,” she said.

“Council took into account the large rear yards and (one of the lots) increasing in size to over 650sq m.

“That site has a frontage to a street and two constructed lanes, which could accommodate at least one additional dwelling in the future.”

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But Mr Jones said making assumptions about whether the property would be further subdivided in the future was an “absurd” basis for slapping him with the hefty levy.

“What, so I have to pay about $200,000 just in case in 50 years’ time someone buys my property and builds another house on it?” he said.

“There’s no way known I’m planning to further subdivide it.”

Mr Jones said he had already spent about $600,000 building a bungalow and garage in the rear of his property and was planning on forking out even more for the pool and landscaping to help realise the family’s “forever home” dream.

“I’ve just spent all this money to make this happen, how can (the council) seriously think I’m going to knock it all down, dig it all up and subdivide?,” he said.

Cr Crawford said public open space funds collected by the council were used to redevelop existing park and recreation facilities and buy new open space to meet the needs of the community.

“While putting a pool in a backyard does not create the need for more open space, the potential for subdivision of these lots may,” she said.

She said Mr Jones had been given a permit to reconfigure the boundaries without requiring him to subdivide the land or paying to the contribution.

But Mr Jones said he wanted the pool to be on the title of his residence.

“I live (here) and I want that area to be part of my home, I don’t want it to be part of the neighbouring property,” he said. “I hope common sense can prevail here.”

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