Pet owners brace as Mornington Peninsula council poised to hike fees and charges
The family pet could soon cost Mornington Peninsula residents up to 260 per cent more. Here’s why.
South East
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Fees and charges are set to skyrocket across the Mornington Peninsula and pet owners will be among those hit hardest.
The local council will on Tuesday night consider charging up to 260 per cent more for “Houdini hounds” as it continues budget deliberations.
Shire staff have recommended the 2023/24 fees and charges schedule, which includes 551 increases, be adopted.
A further 231 fees would be introduced or restructured and just 14 charges decreased.
If the schedule is adopted, dog owners would face one of the biggest prices hikes under a plan to implement a $202 fee to retrieve a pet from the council pound – $146 more than the current charge.
Cat owners would pay $178, up 217 per cent from the existing $56 charge.
The cost of microchipping impounded animals was also set to rise by 80 per cent from $35 to $63.
Registration fees for desexed dogs and cats were also expected to go up by 11 per cent from $54 to $60 and $60 registration fees for older pets would be introduced.
Blairgowrie dog owner Andrea Allen said the increases did not reflect the services provided in return.
“What do we actually get for our registration fees?” she said.
“The council won’t even provide dog poo bags.
“Our leash free areas only have signs and minimal bins, while other councils also supply waste bags, water, seating, shade and sometimes dog washing stations.”
Ms Allen feared the high cost of retrieving a dog from the pound would force pet owners to surrender their animals.
“Some of these dogs are like Houdini; they find a way to escape and if these charges go up by the amount the council is talking, there will be people who can’t afford to get their pets back.”
In February a dog owner took to social media to ask why Mornington Peninsula dog facilities were “second rate” compared to other municipalities.
Mayor Steve Holland responded saying that “other councils were much, much smaller” and had “much higher property rates”.
He also argued that many Mornington Peninsula towns had multiple dog parks.
A council report to be tabled at Tuesday’s meeting said the proposed fees and charges had been reviewed in line with increasing council fees by 7.4 per cent based on the September Quarter Consumer Price Index and benchmarked against 20 other councils.
About 23 per cent of the proposed fee increases were higher than 7.4 per cent including footpath trading permits (310 per cent), event permits (210 per cent) outdoor dining (25 per cent), parking fines (11 per cent) and parking fines (11 per cent).
Swimming lessons, library fees and Meals and Wheels were also set to go up by seven percent.
Ratepayers Victoria said the council was preparing to “gouge the family budget” to generate revenue.
“These proposed fee increases are appalling. They are hitting, kids, the elderly, small businesses, and household budgets,” spokesman Dean Hurlstone said.
“Perhaps Mornington Shire needs to actually cut some expenditure.”