Corangamite Shire Council is in a stable financial position as it adopts its $69 million 2024-2025 Budget.
Councillors last night adopted the Budget, incorporating changes following consideration of public submissions.
Mayor Kate Makin said the Budget ensured Council got the best value for money for its ratepayers.
"Particularly in these difficult times with high inflation and shortages of materials and skills, Council has put in a lot of work to make sure continue to maintain a stable financial position.
"This means we can continue to deliver high quality projects and services for our community.
"With elections later this year, the 12-month budget and annual action plan give the organisation clear and detailed directions until a new Council is at the table next financial year."
As indicated at the May Council meeting, Council added the project to develop the Camperdown and Terang Structure plans.
A $300,000 project to develop Structure plans for Camperdown and Terang has been added to the Corangamite Shire Budget for 2024-2025.
The proposed Budget includes a rate increase of 2.75% within the State Government's rate capping framework which has capped rate increases in Victorian councils.
The differential rates include a reduction in the Farm Rate from 87.50% to 87% and increase in vacant industrial land from 142.50% to 150% in accordance with the adopted Revenue and Rating Plan.
The waste management charge will increase by 5.35% to reflect the effect of inflation on costs and introduction of the new kerbside glass collection service mandated by the State Government.
Major initiatives in the 2024-2025 Budget include:
- Capital works........................................................................... $28.57 million
- Grant Programs............................................................................... $415,000
- Events delivery................................................................................ $200,000
- Lower Curdies River Flood Study................................................. $200,000
- Climate Change Strategy Implementation..................................... $40,000
The capital works program include.
- Completion of the multi-year Port Campbell Town Centre Revitalisation Project ($11 million) including roads, footpath, cycleways and open spaces.
- Roads ($8.30 million) – including rehabilitation, strategic local road upgrades, resheeting and resealing. Excluding Port Campbell Town Centre Revitalisation Project listed separately.
- Waste Management ($2.99 million) – including investment in the Naroghid landfill site to accommodate for the increased volumes, renewal of buildings at the Skipton and Port Campbell transfer stations and a Composting system trial.
- Buildings ($1.09 million) including floor replacement at Terang Hall and Timboon stadium, library façade and furniture refresh and solar battery power project at Council's landfill.
- Plant and Equipment ($3.66 million) including significant investments of a compactor at landfill, a replacement jet patcher for road maintenance, street sweeper and ongoing cyclical replacement of the plant vehicle fleet.
The Budget will deliver a $3.87 million operating surplus and will see Council remain debt free. Some budget initiatives are contingent upon securing Federal or State Government Funding
This Budget allocates $8.5 million to road rehabilitation, roads to recovery projects, resheeting and resealing. Some of the major road projects include rehabilitation of
- Cooriemungle Road (0.88 km)...................................................... $350,000
- Crawfords Road Ch. (1 km)........................................................... $243,000
- Danedite Road (1.1 km)................................................................. $389,000
- Hinkleys Road (1.68 km)................................................................ $403,000
- Hospital Road, Baileys Road to Leahys Lane, Timboon.......... $233,000
- and widening and rehabilitation of Rands Road, Timboon,
from Morgan Street to Church Street........................................... $200,000
Another major project is installation of a $420,000 footpath from Bowen Street to the Lakes and Craters Holiday Park in Camperdown.
The Budget also included $100,000 each for improvements at pools and libraries, and energy & water saving measures at Council facilities.
Council Grant Programs continue to be supported with:
- Ready Now Grants............................................................................ $25,000
- Community Grants Funding............................................................. $50,000
- Enabling Grants program................................................................. $20,000
- Small Business Assistance Program.............................................. $90,000
- Business Façade Improvement Program...................................... $50,000
- Facility Grants.................................................................................... $50,000
- Facility Design Grants....................................................................... $30,000
- Environment Support Grants........................................................... $50,000
- Events & Festivals Funding............................................................. $50,000
Read the full Budget document here.
