CARDINIA councillors look set to join their Casey counterparts in calling for a softening of the State Government's proposed $95,000 a hectare tax on growth area properties.

Last Tuesday, Casey councillors voted unanimously to support the growth areas infrastructure contribution being levied when development approval is granted rather than applying retrospectively to landowners selling up from last December.

Mayor Geoff Ablett successfully called at last Tuesday's council meeting for Casey to take a formal position on the issue.

Councillors agreed to send a letter to Planning Minister Justin Madden and local state MPs seeking implementation of this position.

Cardinia Mayor Bill Pearson, who recently met lobby group Taxed Out with Casey representatives, said councillors would look at a similar motion at tonight's council meeting.

"I know, having talked to most of the councillors, that they don't support property owners being made to pay this early. It should be paid by developers. The one thing that's keeping Casey-Cardinia going is the new housing development.

"If it goes through and there are also changes to the first-home buyers' scheme [to be reviewed at the end of this month], it's going to kill the new housing and first-home-buyers market stone dead."

Cr Ablett said his push followed the recent briefing with Taxed Out, which had requested the council "make a stand" ahead of a meeting between the lobby group and the State Government.

Taxed Out spokesman Michael Hocking said of the councils' support: "Once you hear the stories about how it affects people and what this tax is about, what else can you do?"