Public Notice - Notice of Intention to Declare a Special Charge Scheme for the Central Coburg Shopping Precinct

18 Sep 2026

In accordance with a resolution of Merri-bek City Council (Council) made at its meeting on 9 September 2026, notice is given that, at its meeting to be held on 14 April 2027, it is Council’s intention to declare a special charge (Scheme) under section 163(1) of the Local Government 1989 (Act) for the purposes of defraying expenses to be incurred by the Council in (administratively only and subject always to the approval, direction and control of the Council) providing funds to the incorporated body known and operating as Central Coburg Business Association Inc (CCBA), such funds to be used for the purposes of defraying promotional, advertising, marketing and business development expenses as approved by Council and agreed to between Council and CCBA, all of which are associated with the encouragement of commerce, retail and professional activity and employment in the Central Coburg Shopping Precinct (Precinct).

The special charge will be assessed based on geographic criteria, having regard to the location and ownership or occupation of those rateable properties in the Precinct which are used, or reasonably capable of being used, for commercial (including retail and professional) purposes, together with their respective tiered benefit classifications, which are set out below.

The Special Charge is to be declared, and will remain in force, for the period commencing 1 July 2027 and ending on 30 June 2032.

During the period of the Scheme, a total amount of $1,143,333.96 is expected to be levied.

The land and the properties in relation to which the Scheme is to be declared is all the land and properties described in the following street addresses:

  • 327 – 509 (inclusive) and 322 – 502 (inclusive) Sydney Road, Coburg
  • 94 –124 (inclusive) and 81B – 91A, 95 – 121, and 129 – 133 (all inclusive) Bell Street, Coburg
  • 2 – 8 (inclusive) and 1 – 15 (inclusive) and 21 – 25 (inclusive) Munro Street, Coburg
  • 1 – 7 (inclusive) Harding Street, Coburg
  • All properties in Louisa Street, Coburg
  • 1 – 17 (inclusive) and 1/12 – 4/12 (inclusive) Victoria Street, Coburg, and 
  • All properties in Waterfield Street, Coburg. 

The special charge will be assessed and levied according to the capital improved value of each property included in the Scheme as at 1 July 2026 (CIV). Each property’s tiered benefit classification will remain unchanged for the duration of the Scheme.

For the first year of the Scheme (being for the period 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2028), the following amounts are specified as being payable by those properties in the following tiered benefit classifications (in order to raise a pro rata amount of $224,138.96):

  • Tier 1 (CIV $0 - $239,000.99) 10 properties each pay $304.90 
  • Tier 2 (CIV $240,000 - $359,000.99) 31 properties each pay $407.63
  • Tier 3 (CIV $360,000 - $849,999.99) 113 properties each pay $479.44
  • Tier 4 (CIV $850,000 - $1,149,999.99) 36 properties each pay $674.98
  • Tier 5 (CIV $1,150,000 - $2,099,999.99) 67 properties each pay $1,267.09, and 
  • Tier 6 (CIV $2,100,000 plus) 22 properties each pay $2,049.20.

For the second, third, fourth and fifth years of the Scheme, the Special Charge payable in respect of the properties in each of the above tiered benefit classifications will be based on an increase of one percent on the respective amounts payable in the immediate preceding year.

The properties included in the Scheme will otherwise be subject to general revaluations and supplementary valuations on the same cycle as Council general rates and charges.

The Special Charge will be levied by Council sending a notice to the persons who are liable to pay the Special Charge which will require that the Special Charge must be paid in the following manner:

  • By one annual payment to be paid in full by the due date fixed by the Council in the notice which will be a date not less than 30 days after the issue of the notice, or 
  • By four instalments to be paid by the dates which are fixed by the Council in the notice. 

Council will consider cases of financial or other hardship and may consider other payment options for the Special Charge. There will be no incentives given for payment of the Special Charge before the due dates for payment.

Should Council declare the proposed Special Charge at its meeting of 14 April 2027, it must levy the Special Charge within 12 months of that declaration. Should the Special Charge not be levied within that time, the proposed declaration will expire.

Documents available for download:

Copies of the proposed declaration of the Special Charge and a detailed plan of the Scheme area can be inspected at the:

  • Coburg Civic Centre, 90 Bell Street, Coburg
  • Coburg Library, corner of Victoria and Louisa Streets, Coburg.

during normal business hours for a period of at least 28 days after the publication of this notice. 

Any person may make a submission to Council under sections 163A and 223 of the Act.

In addition, any person who will be required to pay the Special Charge to be imposed by the proposed declaration, whether an owner or an occupier of a property included in the Scheme, has the right to object to the proposed declaration, and may also make a written objection to the Council under 163B of the Act. An occupier is entitled to exercise the right of objection if they submit documentary evidence with the objection that shows it is a condition of the lease under which the person is an occupier that the occupier is to pay the Special Charge.

Written submissions to be submitted to Council under section 223 of the Act and/or written objections to be lodged with Council under section 163B of the Act must be received by Council by 5pm on Monday 26 October 2026.

Submissions and/or objections must be in writing and addressed to:

Manager City Design and Economy
Merri-bek City Council
Locked Bag 10
Brunswick VIC 3056 

or via email: business@merri-bek.vic.gov.au

You can access Council's translation and interpreting services.

Any person who has made a written submission under section 223 of the Act is entitled to request, in their submission, to be heard in support of their written submission in person or represented by a person specified in the submission before the Council (or a Committee of Council appointed by Council) under section 223 of the Act, the day, time and place of which will be advised in writing.

Any person making a written submission under section 223 of the Act is advised that Council is not required to make available for public inspection submissions received in accordance with section 223 of the Act. Accordingly, all submissions and personal information in submissions will be handled as authorised or required by law, including under the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.

Council will consider any written submissions and take into account any objections in accordance with sections 163A, 163B and 223 of the Act.

Any person requiring further information concerning the proposed declaration of the Special Charge or the Scheme should in the first instance contact the Economic Development team on 8311 4131 or email business@merri-bek.vic.gov.au