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August 12, 2014
Delays in correspondence from the South Burnett Regional Council have angered owners of houses on the failed Memerambi housing estate.
southburnett.com.au has been contacted by several owners in recent days who said they were yet to receive any letters from Council in regards to the “benefited area” arrangement which has been put forward as the best way to restart the stalled development.
Under a benefitted area, Council would borrow funds from Queensland Treasury to complete the work left unfinished by the developer, ie build the sealed roads and drainage works, and connect the underground power needed to make the estate habitable.
The owners would repay the loan costs, interest and redemption fees over a set period on top of their normal rates.
This would mean other South Burnett ratepayers would not have to pick up the costs of the failed development.
In June, after speaking to Council, we reported the letters to owners had been sent.
Soon afterwards, however, we were contacted by owners saying they had not received anything; southburnett.com.au spoke to Council again and were assured the letters would be sent soon.
Ms Debbie Schulz, who is acting for several of the owners, rang us on Friday to say there had still been no correspondence received.
She accused us of being a mouthpiece for Council for suggesting the Estate’s problems had been resolved.
Another owner, Steven Hapke, contacted us today to confirm there was still no word from Council.
“I have just received notice of another two lot owners going bankrupt. That’s four I know of and another six on the verge, not to mention the strain on families and marriages,” he said.
“I bet you won’t print that in your paper.
“Doesn’t matter anyway. All the locals know what’s going on at the next election all councillors will be finished.”
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