Corangamite Shire's $45 million Draft Budget 2019-2020 delivers a $1.2 million operating surplus while complying with the State Government's rate cap with a 2.5% rate increase.
In a windfall for ratepayers, the waste management charge will decrease by 4.72% per property, which includes a $19 per household adjustment due to lower-than-expected costs associated with the global recycling crisis in 2018-2019.
The draft allocates $14.8 million for new assets, asset upgrades and renewals.
Mayor Neil Trotter said the draft budget will build on the Council Plan 2017-2021 which sets out priorities over the full term of the Council.
"This proposed budget identifies what resources we need to fund the wide range of services we provide to the community," Cr Trotter said.
"It also includes details of proposed capital expenditure, allocations to improve and renew infrastructure, buildings and operational assets, as well as a range of other projects."
Cr Trotter said Council remained committed to maintaining local roads and advocating to the State and Federal Governments for improvements to the arterial road network.
"This draft budget allocates $8.2 million to road rehabilitation, roads to recovery projects, resheeting and resealing, up from $7 million last year," he said.
"Some of the big road projects include the widening the Foxhow Berrybank Road at Berrybank ($1,656,000), upgrading the intersection of Depot Road and Old Geelong Road in Camperdown ($365,000), rehabilitation of Lismore-Pittong Road in Bradvale ($319,000) and rehabilitation works on New Cooriemungle Road ($304,000).
"There are also road widening works proposed in Wright Street ($75,000) and Church Street ($60,000) in Camperdown."
Cr Trotter said Council was committed to improving the liveability of the Shire through the management of facilities, town planning, and environmental sustainability for the overall prosperity of the community.
"That is reflected in projects such as the new Port Campbell toilet block, the Derrinallum streetscape and a record of over $365,000 committed to grants programs.
Population attraction and economic development also continue to be areas of focus with funding committed to a population and migration attraction project, the fifth round of the Retail Area Façade Improvement Program, a feasibility study on a business incubator hub and a new small business support grant program.
Council will continue to provide a range of services to its community, such as aged and disability, and early years including Family Day Care, immunisation, kindergartens, Maternal and Child Health, and Mobile Child Care.
Recognising the value of young people in the community, Council will also invest $20,000 to develop a new Youth Strategy to ensure the services provided meet their needs.
The Mayor encouraged residents to get a copy of the draft budget and have their say.
"I've fielded a few inquiries in the last 12 months about 'What do we get for our rates?'.
"When you look at this document, it's all there.
"It maintains a surplus and we remain free of borrowings and, in conjunction with the strategic Council Plan 2017-2021, it's a comprehensive and cohesive document."
It can be downloaded here and is also on display at the Camperdown Civic Centre, 181 Manifold Street, Camperdown from Wednesday 24 April 2019 until Friday 31 May 2019, between 8:30 am and 5 pm.
Hard copies are also available by calling Council on 5593 7100.
Anyone wishing to make a submission on the proposed budget must do so in writing, addressed to Chief Executive Officer, Corangamite Shire Council, PO Box 84 Camperdown, 3260. This year you can also complete a submission online.
Written and online submissions must be received before 5 pm Friday 31 May and anyone making a submission may ask to present in person in support of their submission. Presentations may be made to a committee of Council on Tuesday 4 June at the Killara Centre, 210-212 Manifold Street, Camperdown.
Council will then meet to consider adoption of the budget on Tuesday 11 June at 5 pm at the Killara Centre. Anyone requiring information concerning the budget should contact Adam Taylor, Manager Finance on 5593 7100.
Budget highlights include:
- Roads ($8.2 million) – including rehabilitation, roads to recovery projects, resheeting and resealing.
- Parks and gardens ($1.5 million) – including Stage 1 of the Timboon – Port Campbell trail
- Buildings ($1.4 million) – including the Port Campbell toilet block, swimming pool upgrades and ongoing maintenance of buildings.
- Plant and Equipment ($1.7 million) – including ongoing cyclical replacement of plant and vehicles, and upgrade and replacement of information technology
- Grants ($367,500)
- Quick Response Grants ($17,500)
- Community Grants Funding ($50,000)
- Community Planning township allocations ($30,000)
- CBD Façade Improvement Program ($50,000)
- Facility Grants — including design grants ($80,000)
- Environment Support Grants ($30,000)
- Events & Festival Funding ($60,000)
- Business Incentive Grant Program ($50,000)
- Population and Migration Attraction Project ($100,000)
- Incubator Hub Study ($100,000)
- Derrinallum Streetscape Project ($200,000)
- Fire recovery implementation ($165,000)
- Business Incubator feasibility study ($100,000)
- Population & migration attraction ($100,000)
- Youth strategy ($20,000)
- Early Years services ($3 million)
- Aged and Disability Services ($1.8 million)
- Pools ($630,000)
- Libraries ($509,000)
