The Carroll Labor Government is facing renewed scrutiny over controversial site valuations at Silverleaves that left residents with inflated land tax bills.
It comes after a resident’s property site valuation was reduced from $340,000 to $85,000 following a successful State Revenue Office (SRO) objection, only to be increased again to $330,000 five months later.
Approximately 500 Silverleaves property owners were hit with land tax bills despite their properties being subject to strict Land Subject Inundation Overlay (LSIO) planning controls that severely restrict development and reduced their value.
The dispute stems from the SRO and Valuer-General Victoria’s failure to properly apply a 2025 High Court ruling, which requires land affected by planning restrictions, including a LSIO, to be valued according to its constrained development potential.
The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath, said the latest Silverleaves site valuation saga highlights Labor’s failure to fix serious flaws in the state’s land tax system.
“Labor’s been repeatedly told that planning, erosion and coastal inundation constraints do not reflect Silverleaves site valuations.
“Instead of fixing the valuation problem, Labor’s clearly expecting residents to repeatedly navigate the lengthy and stressful objections process.
“It’s unjust that residents who successfully had their valuations reduced last round, have had them hiked again despite having the same LSIO restrictions.”
Ms Bath said she has written to the Labor government demanding an immediate review of affected Silverleaves valuations.
“It’s unthinkable that only five months after I raised this in parliament, Labor is repeating the same mistake.
“Labor must explain these extraordinary site valuation swings and review all affected properties, instead of forcing residents into endless bureaucratic battles just to correct the government’s mistakes and receive a fair outcome.”
