Hobsons Bay City Council will continue investing in projects our community wants and services it relies on through the Annual Budget 2024-25.
The budget will deliver more than $66 million in capital works projects and fund more than 100 vital services.
Some of the major projects to receive funding in this financial year's budget include:
$8.2 million towards the construction of the Altona Beach and Esplanade project (total cost of the multi-year project is $10.35 million).
$5.5 million towards the design and start of construction of the Williamstown Swimming and Lifesaving Club ($7.9 million also included in 2025-26).
$1.5 million to the Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre for early works over two years.
$920,000 for the Western Aquatic and Early Years Centre and Bruce Comben Reserve design.
$850,000 to the Williamstown Mechanics Institute.
$525,000 to build the second stage of McCormack Park.
The capital works program includes:
Recreation and open space ($19.9 million), including parks, open space and streetscapes ($15 million), bridges ($2.1 million), off-street carparks ($850,000), and recreational, leisure and community facilities ($1 million).
Buildings ($18.8 million), including sporting and recreational facilities ($9.1 million), environmental sustainability initiatives ($2.3 million), community centres ($3.5 million), and the building renewal program ($3.8 million).
Roads ($16.6 million), drains ($2.8 million), footpaths and cycleways ($1.2 million).
Plant and equipment ($6.1 million), including scheduled replacement of Council's vehicle and plant fleets ($3.5 million), information technology ($1.4 million), and library resources ($1 million).
Waste management ($1.1 million).
Community services funded through the budget include support for older people and younger people with disabilities, early years, child health, youth services; Council+ service centres, libraries and community centres, community development, and arts and culture.
Residential rates will rise by an average of 1.45 per cent, as part of an average rate rise across all property categories of 2.75 per cent, which is consistent with the Victorian Government's rate-capping policy and below inflation.
Service charges for the collection, disposal and processing of garbage, recycling, glass, garden, and food waste and hard waste – which includes the state government's landfill levy – will increase by 7.5 per cent in 2024-25. This will help cover the cost of Council's considerable investment in introducing a four-bin system in 2019-20.
Council will continue to offer rate relief through its Financial Hardship Policy, with $100,000 allocated in the budget for this vital program.
All 2024-25 budget documents are available on our budget webpage.
Quotes attributable to Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Cr Matt Tyler:
"This is the final budget for this Council's term. During this time, Council has made significant investments in our city, including improvements to our parks, beautiful open spaces and foreshore; upgrades to sporting facilities, including catering for increased female participation; rolling out our solar program; and upgrading our libraries.
"I'm pleased to see major projects that our community has been advocating for receive funding in this budget. The Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre, improvements to the Williamstown Swimming and Lifesaving Club, the Western Aquatic and Early Years Centre, and the redeveloped Williamstown Mechanics Institute are significant investments that reflect what we've heard from our community.
"We're fully aware that cost-of-living pressures are affecting our community, and I'm pleased that the increase in rates is below levels of inflation as we seek to balance the demand for services and infrastructure with the community's capacity to pay. It's important that our residents know there is support available for those who need rate relief."
