Victory … Jeanette and Dennis Hearn are relieved the GAIC has finally been defeated. 43583
By Bridie Byrne
LANDOWNERS Jeanette and Dennis Hearn breathed a sigh of relief last week for the first time in a year.
The Tarneit couple were overwhelmed to learn that the Growth Area Contribution Tax (GAIC) was voted down in State Parliament.
Ms Hearn said her life unravelled when she received a letter last year explaining that she would be hit with a $95,000 per hectare tax.
“Its been terribly stressful. If I had not been retired I don’t know what I would have done,” she said.
“I was able to spend time campaigning and attending rallies.
“For many people it was a full-time job and we gave it our all.”
Ms Hearn said if the GAIC had passed they would have been left in limbo waiting for developers to come along.
“It’s messed up many lives because many wanted to move on to nursing homes,” she said.
“We are well into our sixties and a time comes when you can’t do all the mowing and weeding and the things you need to keep a property like this.
“We want our daughter to inherit the property, not to have to spend it all on tax.”
Ms Hearn said their tax bill would have been close to $380,000.
She said they moved to the 4.8 ha property about 39 years ago to train horses for dressage competitions.
“We bought this as a lifestyle property,” she said.
“It’s a place where we have access close to the city and acres that we could afford.”
Ms Hearn said she felt resentment against Wyndham Council for supporting the tax.
“I see it as a money grabbing thing on behalf of the council that has only been interested in developing the land and getting money,” she said.
