Moyne Shire Ratepayers Assoc

24/02/2026

Cr Foster’s comments on the “complex problem” of the future of the Port Fairy pool as spoken today in the Moyne Shire Ordinary Council Meeting:

“As Councillors we have a moral, ethical and legal obligation to make decisions that are in the best interest of the entire Shire. We are talking about public money here. So that means we have to make decisions that are carefully thought through, evidence based and fair to all our residents.

“When it comes to community sentiment I have listened very closely to the voices of the port Fairy community and I’ve listened to voices of other people in other areas of our very large Shire who quite clearly don’t want their rates used to fund a new pool in Port Fairy

“Just as this Council has in the past listened to the voices of people who fought hard against windfarms and against the emergency services levy as examples that so unfairly burdens our farmers in particular, we need to listen to the voices we are hearing today”

Send a message to learn more

19/02/2026

The heated indoor pool in Port Fairy is not financially viable, and the cost of running it cannot be covered by those who actually use it. Reinstating it would mean asking all Moyne Shire ratepayers to subsidise a facility that primarily benefits a relatively small number of Port Fairy residents and visitors, while the majority of ratepayers who live outside Port Fairy are unlikely to ever use it.

There is no dispute that it is a valuable community asset, particularly for older residents and young families. However, value alone does not make something sustainable. At present, those with the loudest voices are offering no credible plan to fund the pool other than shifting the financial burden onto the broader ratepayer base. That effectively asks many to pay for a service they neither need nor access.

In a large and diverse shire, limited public funds must be allocated in a way that is equitable and responsible. Supporting a non-viable facility for the benefit of a minority, without a clear and fair funding model, places an unreasonable burden on the wider community.

A Victorian community group promised its local shire a new pool would not cost it money once it was built. In less than three months, the promise was broken.

23/09/2024

Rates too high?

Not only did the Moyne Shire Council increase rates to their maximum level allowed under the rate cap (again), but many Moyne Shire properties would appear to have arbitrarily increased in value despite the medium property prices in most Moyne Shire towns dropping over the preceding year.

While everyone loves to think their property is valued highly, especially under the heavy burden of loan repayments, can you afford to be paying the extra dollars if the valuation is not realistic?

Across the Shire a number of ratepayers have successfully appealed their valuations and are looking forward to reduced rate bills. If you want to appeal your valuation you can do so within 2 months of the notice being given

Information to help you understand the process of objecting to a valuation.

26/05/2024

Moyne Shire scraps the cash

The new financial year will see Moyne Shire waste facilities going cash free with payment cards being mandated for all waste disposal. You'll also need to ensure you have extra room on your cards to absorb the significant increases in fees being proposed in the Budget, with green waste increasing from $19 per sqm to $33 per sqm and general waste going from $72 per sqm to $100

Now we're sure there would have been consultation with the community as per the Council's often spruiked engagement policy, but given their proclivity to only consult behind closed doors, we thought we'd bring you this news as a community service announcement. Hopefully you wont hear it first from the frustrated Shire staff on your next (expensive) trip to our waste facilities

15/09/2023

To help with the clean-up following last week’s storm – green waste disposal at Council’s Killarney, Mortlake, Hawkesdale, Macarthur, Peterborough and Caramut transfer stations will be free for Moyne Shire residents from Today until October 2.

To view opening hours for each facility, please visit www.moyne.vic.gov.au/waste

❗️Please note - transfer station staff may also ask for identification to determine if you are a Moyne Shire resident.

27/06/2023

Moyne Shire councillor Damian Gleeson has defended the budget funds being plunged into Port Fairy, calling the popular tourist town the shire's "golden goose" quotes The Standard in their excellent summary of today's Council meeting. "As soon as we spend some money in Port Fairy it's a bloody disgrace," he said. "I've had enough, because the goose that's laying the golden egg needs to be fed, it's hungry and if we don't feed it the goose is going to die."

Meanwhile over on their page the Mayor says "we've heard what you had to say" but by the looks of things they didn't hear those 15 locals who objected to the permit change at The Convent nor from those calling for funding for the Koroit township renewal. They did hear from the football club so extra money is now being allocated to the upgrade of the lighting at Victoria Park.

Maybe those residents who are worried about walking themselves and their children down the main street can instead take a walk up Anzac Avenue aided by the brighter lights from the Park - just stick to the footpath on the one side of the street, and avoid the extra 100 cars parked in the vicinity!

26/06/2023

What more does the Koroit and district community need to do to be heard?

Thus says the KDPA in their submission to the Moyne Council Budget as quoted in the agenda for Tuesday's Council meeting (we know this because although the Council has chosen to black out people's names from their submissions, they then go on to name and quote them in the agenda - go figure)

Some of the other comments from Koroit residents are as follows:

* Moyne shire please stop overlooking Koroit and provide us with funding we desperately need. We pay our rates too

* The Moyne Shire continues to fund both large and small projects in Port Fairy. Koroit and other small communities within the Shire are just wanting our fair share of the Budget. After all, we are ratepayers as well

* the decision to completely ignore Koroit and supposedly what was your #1 priority re the footpath and safety of people in the town can only be seen as a slap in the face

* Not enough for Koroit. You expect the town to host so many events that help you spruik your Shire nationwide and then you do almost nothing to improve the strip town parks or anything

* please explain why you have chosen to fund many desired capital works projects over funding the very necessary Koroit Township Renewal project?

* there was community consultation and a plan in place and council seems to be mothballing or fobbing this off to wear down the community and its engagement to get these works done

* Very disappointed that the young families of Koroit have again been overlooked. Footpath is either so dilapidated or non existent that taking young children around the town is quite dangerous

* 3.5% rates increase will unfairly impact on smaller communities such as Mortlake and Koroit who are the two towns with the highest mortgage default in the district. These towns can expect very small amounts of financial assistance for asset renewal compared to the millions budgeted for Port Fairy

* Once again Koroit is severely overlooked for major funding Koroit gets $180 000 and port fairy gets $3 000 000. Meanwhile Koroit with the fastest growth of population in Moyne Shire is overlooked.

* The community have been rallying for over 5 years to obtain funding for the Koroit Township Renewal project. Moyne shire are extremely lucky to have avoided being hit with lawsuits in regards to injuries sustained from the derelict condition of the footpath. It is a right to all rate payers in Koroit to have a safe footpath surface for our Main Street

* The KDPA are extremely disappointed with the 23/24 draft budget
There appears to be no funding allocated to the Koroit Township
Renewal project which is meant to be Councils number one priority
project? There is no proposal for stage one and we have not had any communication from Council regarding its progression. This is extremely disappointing and somewhat offensive given the time the KDPA group has volunteered. What more does the Koroit and district community need to do to be heard?

* Quite frankly offensive to nominate Koroit a best tourism town when Koroit has been allocated a measly $180k. It is embarrassing to think that people are being encouraged to vote for a town that has had very poor investment and is visibly run down

The Moyne Shire meeting will be streamed live on facebook from 2pm. The budget submissions can be read in their entirety via the link below

18/06/2023

Wouldn't a Neighbourhood House be a fantastic concept for Koroit?

By encouraging community members to come together, it could foster a sense of belonging and connection, provide a space for people to socialize, build relationships, and participate in community activities. This could help strengthen the social fabric of Koroit and promote a sense of community pride and ownership.

Neighborhood houses often offer various workshops, classes, and educational programs. They can offer support services such as counseling, health and wellness programs, legal advice, parenting support, and referrals to relevant community organisations.

A neighborhood house can facilitate volunteering opportunities, encouraging community members to contribute their skills and time for the betterment of Koroit, celebrate diversity and promote community cohesion through music performances, art exhibitions, sports events, and local celebrations.

It could serve as a central information hub, keeping residents informed about local news, events, and opportunities, and connect community members with local businesses, organizations, and services, fostering economic development and collaboration within Koroit.

In Warrnambool, the Council have just committed $250k for a third community house, while in Moyne, it appears there is no Council appetite to extend past the one located in Port Fairy. Wouldn't it be great if there was a vision to see a Neighbourhood House in Koroit?

08/06/2023

If you need more evidence that Koroit has no voice in Moyne Shire Council matters, note how quick they are to gag debate on their posts in our community forum

07/06/2023

Great arguments from Koroit ratepayer and local businessman Sam Rudolph. For those without a Standard Subscription, points raised by Sam include:

* Koroit's services were well below par because of years of under-investment from Moyne Shire
* [There is] ... a lack of public investment in the township
* Koroit's growing; services aren't adequate. [The Town] needs to be brought up to speed for the population that is here
* Compare the amount of capital works and large projects funded in Port Fairy to that of Koroit: Port Fairy is slated to receive $1.3 million for a new skate park, $400,000 for an under-performing football netball club, $1 million for caravan park upgrades, $20,000 for sustainable lighting at East Beach, $300,000 for (the) railway goods shed.

Mr Rudolph said it was "quite frankly, offensive" for the council to encourage people to vote for Koroit as best tourist town when it had allowed the township to become "visibly run down".
"It's hard to go past the fact that four of the seven councillors reside in Port Fairy." He then proposed if the Councillors were really serious about Koroit being a tourist town, they should put their money where their mouth is

The Koroit Ratepayers Association would like to endorse Mr Rudolph's comments. While Budget submissions have now closed, the Moyne Shire Council have an opportunity to amend the Budget by listening to Koroit Ratepayers. Lets hope they do the right thing.

Sam Rudolph says the level of spending on Koroit is 'deeply insulting'.