June 14th, 2026To build or not to build, that was my query

So far, the build has been a lot of hurry up and wait, with our hard-earned money haemorrhaging from the account, from all the associated fees.

The last bite out of our time schedule has come from the Hepburn Shire Council. Sherridon Homes thought we were putting in our amendment to the council and we thought they were doing it, putting us back another month.
However, because we have a principal and interest loan, even though we have only used $19,000 of the mortgage we are still expected to come up with $2700 per month. FFS.
It happened because we originally had settled on a home from another builder, which was becoming a little out of our reach, so decided on the Sherridon 305 which required an amendment to the original plans.
There are two types of amendments – the usual amendment which is quite a vigorous process and a “secondary consent”. The latter, which fortunately we fell into due to the building envelope being similar, is a simpler, faster pathway for minor, non-transformative changes that bypasses public advertising and third-party appeals.
So with the money paid, another $318 (I know it’s only money and you can’t take it with you – but I am happy to spend it on more fun things while I am still here) and the application lodged here we are again, this time waiting for HSC.
Mind you, we only sent them in on May 28 and the council has been pretty busy with the draft budget and other things. But I can see another month floating by as we come up with our next mortgage repayment.
We did though have a small win, thanks to a dinner with friends from Ballarat.
The lovely people from the State Revenue Department decided to throw a tax on the land which is about to be built on. That was mostly because the council had stopped calling it Lot 1 of our address and had given it its own name, and because we are on a corner block, a different street name.
So they came for us with a land tax bill just south of $1000.
But at that dinner, for my birthday, my Ballarat friend, who had the same thing happen, advised us that they had been able to get out of the tax. Hmmm.
We reached out to the State Revenue people and it turns out we have a case.
The land in question is still attached to our land, there is currently no buildings on it or, for that matter, a fence as well as something about its zoning.
The upshot of this is if you do get hit with one of the new taxes, don’t just pay it, ask the question.
The downside, and salt in the wound of the land tax, is that you have to continue to pay it until they make a deliberation and then, only then, refund you what you have paid if they got it wrong.
The slab is not down yet but nor is it the end of the month. Thoughts & prayers.
Words: Donna Kelly