Record investment in infrastructure and a boost to key services lead the way in Hume City Council's Annual Budget 2022/23.
Adopted by Council at its meeting this week, the budget reflects the support needed for a growing community and an increase in service needs.
Council's Annual Budget 2022/23 includes significant investment in libraries, leisure centres, preschools, maternal and child health and aged and disability programs.
This is complemented with investment in city infrastructure through the four-year capital works program, which has a strong focus on community facilities, transport infrastructure, parks and reserves.
Council's Annual Budget 2022/23 commits to:
- More than $558 million in community facilities, roads, footpaths, parks and reserves over the next four years, including $101 million in 2022/23.
- $29.92 million to improve, upgrade and develop new buildings, including the new Merrifield South Community Centre, Kalkallo Central Community Hub, and Seabrook Reserve Community Hub, as well as the upgrade for the old Craigieburn Leisure Centre to a new indoor sports facility.
- $20.15 million to construct, upgrade and maintain roads across Hume City as well as $3.78 million for footpaths and cycleways and $10.18 million for car parks.
- $19.94 million for land improvements, including park and reserve upgrades, construction of sporting fields and more. This includes the implementation of the Progress Reserve Master Plan and Seabrook Reserve Master Plan, continuation of works for the athletics track, lighting and associated amenities at Boardman Reserve, and construction of four rugby pitches at Craigieburn's Bridges Recreation Reserve.
Council will also provide $165.65 million to meet the growing demand for a variety of day-to-day services over the next 12 months to:
- Collect more than 86,000 tonnes of kerbside waste, recycling and organics.
- Provide 19,000 hard waste collections;
- Undertake more than 42,171 kilometres of street sweeping;
- Remove more than 5,000 square metres of graffiti;
- Provide 76,800 hours of domestic assistance, personal care and respite care for aged residents;
- Deliver more than 40,400 meals for people in need;
- Host more than 1.2 million visits to our leisure centres;
- Loan more than a million library items to thousands of Hume Libraries members.
- Deliver more than 25,000 immunisations.
- Coordinate 35,000 maternal and child health consultations;
- Register more than 24,000 dogs and cats; and
- Deliver more than 1,600 food safety assessments.
Council's Annual Budget 2022/23 includes a total income of $461.80 million and operating expenditure of $356.13 million, generating a surplus of $105.67 million.
Hume City Council Mayor, Councillor Carly Moore said:
"It gives me great pleasure to present Hume City Council's Annual Budget 2022/23 to the community.
"The next 12 months will see a renewed focus on our recovery from the pandemic and we'll continue to protect and support our community through the challenges of today, as well as invest in a bright and sustainable tomorrow.
"As our growing community continues to adapt and thrive in our new normal, we have made significant investment to ensure services such as libraries, leisure centres, preschools, maternal and child health and aged and disability programs can continue to thrive.
"This is supported with an investment in city infrastructure and a capital works program that has a strong focus on community facilities, transport infrastructure, parks and reserves.
"These investments are our commitment to serving our growing community while maintaining an economic approach that is based on good governance and sound financial management."
