Greater Shepparton City Council adopted the 2024/2025 Budget at the June Council Meeting following extensive community consultation to understand the needs and desires of residents.
In Summary
- Council adopted the 2024/2025 Budget, focusing on financial sustainability and delivering services and capital works.
- Community feedback led to funding for concept designs at Princess Park and renewal of the Shepparton Heritage Centre.
- The Budget includes a $69.97 million capital works program, featuring nearly 100 projects, including GV Link development and major drainage upgrades.
- Significant projects also include a new skate park in Tatura, lighting upgrades, BMX facility improvements, playground shade sails, and a new roundabout at Orrvale Road and Poplar Avenue.
The 2024/2025 Budget strives to maintain financial sustainability, while delivering services, facilities and a full capital works program to ensure the region continues to thrive now and into the future. Council adopted the Budget on Tuesday which outlines the most practical way forward for the next financial year to ensure the region's continued success and prosperity.
Council initially developed a 2024/2025 Draft Budget which was released to the public for review during May and June this year. It followed previous community consultation in November and December 2023 which helped Council develop an initial understanding of the needs and desires of the community and where they would like to see funds allocated, prior to the Budget being drafted.
Thanks to the community feedback received, the adopted Budget includes money for concept designs and an associated cost plan for a new community facility at Princess Park in Shepparton. The project's construction is now identified in Council's ten-year capital works plan. The feedback received also resulted in funding allocated for the renewal of the Shepparton Heritage Centre, which is an important asset for the community.
"Community feedback and consultation is an important step in the annual Budget process. A big thank you to everyone who took the time to provide their feedback prior to the Budget being drafted last year, and again earlier this year when the Draft Budget was on public display," Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali said.
"We made some important amendments to the Draft Budget following this consultation, including the allocation of funding concept designs for a community facility at Princess Park and the renewal of the Shepparton Heritage Centre – two important facilities for the region."
The 2024/2025 Budget includes a $69.97 million capital works program, for both existing and new assets, with close to 100 projects outlined to be delivered across the municipality. This includes the development of Stage 1 of GV Link which will provide a new source of development ready industrial land.
"GV Link has the potential to support business growth for both new and existing operations, not just for Shepparton but also for Mooroopna, Tatura, and the broader region," Cr Sali said.
"The development of GV Link will provide significant new job opportunities, while reinforcing our region's potential to grow as the food bowl of Australia to generate long term economic benefit. GV Link is a game changer for Greater Shepparton in unlocking industrial land and economic potential."
Further highlights from the 2024/2025 program include major drainage project works to improve stormwater drainage across the region including Stage 1 of the Lenne Street Drainage Upgrade in Mooroopna, the Margaret Street Pump Station Upgrade in Tatura, and the Drummond Road Drainage Upgrade in Shepparton. Other highlights include construction of a new skate park in Tatura, lighting at the Victoria Lake Skate Park, upgrades to Council's BMX facilities and Sports Stadium (funded by the State Government), new playground shade sails across the municipality, and upgrading the Orrvale Road and Poplar Avenue intersection in Shepparton to a roundabout (funded by the Federal Black Spot Program).
Cr Sali said the adopted Budget had a robust capital works program, one which will see many major benefits for the community.
"In delivering the 2024/2025 Budget, Council made significant changes to address the operating deficit we were facing. However, despite these changes and the financial challenges we face, we still managed to deliver a strong Budget which includes a healthy capital works program for projects right across the municipality and funding for all of the services, facilities and assets which the community know and love," he said.
"The current group of Councillors have faced many challenges during our term, however we have strived to deliver a robust and financially viable Budget for the community. I believe we have achieved a strong balance to ensure the continued positive growth of our great region."
At Tuesday's Council Meeting, Council also adopted the revised 2021-2025 Revenue and Rating Plan, following the removal of the Derelict Land differential.
View the adopted 2024/2025 Budget here.
View the revised adopted 2021-2025 Revenue and Rating Plan here.
