Swan Hill Rural City Council's 2021/22 draft budget is now out for public comment.
The budget plans for a rate rise of 1.47%, and continues the Council focus of striving for efficiency in its operations, while delivering high-quality services and facilities to the community, and a capital works program.
Mayor Bill Moar said the budget planned for a number of projects to be delivered across the municipality, many of which were in partnership with the State and Federal government.
"These projects include the iconic Our Place project, Ronald Street housing development in Robinvale, and the Swan Hill Regional Soccer Hub.
"There is also the Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum carpark upgrade and development of vehicle access from Latje Road to Robinvale Riverside Park and the Robinvale Leisure Centre," Cr Moar added.
"Additionally, the budget provides for on-the-ground works for the Vibrant Villages: Small town enhancement project.
"Vibrant Villages will provide a coordinated and strategic approach to enhance the liveability and economic prospects for the rural townships of Woorinen South, Manangatang, Lake Boga, Boundary Bend, Piangil, Beverford, Ultima, Nyah and Nyah West.
"This financial year the project will begin to deliver critical public infrastructure, beautification/landscaping works and public art across the nine townships."
Cr Moar added that the draft budget did include a significant increase in the differential rate paid by owners of vacant residential land.
"The purpose of this differential rate, which is an additional rate on this type of land, is to encourage development of vacant residential land in developed areas of the municipality.
"Having the availability of land for development in the residential sector is crucially important to the future growth of our municipality - and this differential rate is there to encourage this availability."
Cr Moar explained that the differential rate on vacant residential land only came into effect once that vacant land had been under the same ownership for three years.
"If that land is sold to another owner, the new owners have three years before they have to pay differential rates on that vacant residential land - regardless if the previous owners had been paying the differential rate," he said.
Due to the increasing cost to process recycling, rubbish and recycling collection charges will increase - to $343 for a 120 litre garbage bin and $520 for a 240 litre garbage bin. The greenwaste collection charge will stay at $95 for those who opt in.
The draft budget is available at below or by contacting Council offices.
An online information presentation of the draft budget will be made available on Council's website from Tuesday, 4 May 2021 at www.swanhill.vic.gov.au
Community members can provide feedback below or in writing to the Chief Executive Officer, Swan Hill Rural City Council, PO Box 488, Swan Hill VIC 3585. Comment must be received by 24 May.
2021/22 draft budget highlights
- Total road upgrades $5.44 million - including $4.14 million for Council's sealed roads network
- Delivery of Vibrant Villages projects (Woorinen South, Manangatang, Lake Boga, Boundary Bend, Piangil, Beverford, Ultima, Nyah and Nyah West) $375,000
- Library book purchases $152,000
- Installation of bus shelters $110,000
- Irrigation systems renewal $110,000
- Playground equipment renewal $85,000
- Implementation of community plans $70,000
Projects
- Lake Boga Catalina Museum Carpark Upgrade $570,000
- Lake Boga foreshore works $300,000
- Robinvale Ronald Street sub-division - increase housing supply $1.75 million
- Robinvale Riverside Park and Leisure Centre vehicle access $60,000 (total project $99,000)
- Swan Hill Our Place development $6.2 million (total figure includes Federal funding)
- Swan Hill Aerodrome Lighting and Runway reconstruction $2.4 million
- Swan Hill Tower Hill residential estate development $1.6 million
- Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery and Our Place Monash Avenue carparking and footpath $1.59 million (total figure includes Federal funding)
- Swan Hill Ken Harrison Sporting Complex Soccer Pavilion $1.4 million
Key documents
Key dates
| Thursday, 22 April | Draft budget released and public comment open |
| Tuesday, 4 May | Online information presentation of draft budget available on Council's website |
| Monday, 24 May at 4pm | Submissions to the draft budget close |
| Tuesday, 1 June at 1pm | Special Council Meeting. If submissions are received, Council will consider submissions at this meeting. |
| Tuesday, 15 June at 2pm | Ordinary Council Meeting where Council will look to adopt the budget if not done so beforehand. |
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