IN an apparent budget quirk, the release fees for impounded sheep, pigs and goats is set to quadruple.
Corporate services director Mick Jaensch denied the steep rise from $37.50 to $148.00 was directed at Springvale South sheep owner Vu Ho, who has taken Supreme Court action against a council bid to remove his pet sheep Baa from his property.
The impound release fees for cattle and horses, dogs, cats and poultry rose by up to 4.4 per cent.
Mr Ho laughed when asked if he thought this was a ‘Vu Ho tax’.
‘‘I think that the council’s move in the increase of pound release fees stands for high taxing rather than targeting me.’’
He said he was targeted by the council in 2011 when it altered local laws forbidding sheep at a residence even with a permit.
‘‘It means that I could not bring my sheep back from exile, because the law did not facilitate the discretion.’’
Next month, Mr Ho is returning to court to appeal his unsuccessful Supreme Court challenge. Thus far, the case is set to cost him $150,000, including the council’s legal fees.
If he loses his appeal, he estimates the costs will jump to $250,000.
Greater Dandenong regulatory services manager Peter Shelton said the pound release fee better reflected the cost of dealing with wandering goats and sheep.
He said there had been 70 per cent more cases of rural or semi-rural residents failing to contain their small livestock breeds.
‘‘[The] council has found that the amount of resources required to capture smaller wandering livestock is the same as for capturing larger animals such as cattle and horses and has therefore aligned the related fees.’’
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