Mornington Peninsula Shire Council adopted the 2021–22 Budget at its Council meeting on 22 June 2021.
The Peninsula community was invited to provide their feedback on the Proposed Budget during the month of April and the comments received helped guide Council's deliberations for the new financial year.
Covid recovery will be a major focus throughout the 2021–22 financial year with Council investing $10M directly towards recovery projects, programs and initiatives such as:
- Waiving fees and charges to the value of $1 million. This relief will be provided across the community and business sector and to our most vulnerable.
- Using $650,000 to re-establish the Outdoor Dining and Township Activation program from October 2021 – April 2022, streamlining processes to ensure the repeat success of this initiative for our hospitality industry.
- Ensuring a green recovery and rebuild our local economy with a focus on transitioning to a net zero carbon energy sector with $500,000 to fast track priority Climate Emergency Actions.
- Building disaster resilience with $250,000 to enhance Emergency Management capability and preparedness of the Peninsula.
- Scoping and implement an 'on demand' bus service trial to the value of $110,000.
- Rolling out over $2 million to empower those most in need and our community through a range of grants in the following categories: events, community recovery, business recovery, social service provider community support, youth and biolinks.
- Planning for long term changes in our community through funding key migration and social connection research ($155,000).
- Spending $250,000 to support community-built bike tracks where kids and adults can connect, enjoy themselves and get active.
- Using $490,000 to progress the Bay Trail construction readying necessary concept designs, approvals and advocacy.
- Fast tracking and expanding our social housing planning and advocacy by allocating $100,000.
The Budget also includes other community-minded initiatives, such as:
- $35,000 to continue Communities that Care
- $52,000 for a new Mornington Peninsula festival
- $142,000 'First 1000 Days Program' for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
- $2.2 million for vital infrastructure and community connections
- $125,000 for Mornington Peninsula Technology Park.
The State Government sets out the maximum amount Councils may increase rates in a year. For 2021–22 the rate cap has been set at 1.5 per cent.
The 2021–22 Capital Works Budget is $42,928,200. Some big-ticket items include:
- $4.0m: Safer Local Roads works
- $2.4m: Community Facilities renewal works
- $2.1m: Sorrento Ferry Terminal Project
- $1.9m: Footpath renewal program
- $1.6m: Flinders Civic Hall redevelopment
- $1.6m: Narambi Reserve Junior Oval
- $1.3m: Hastings Boat Launching Facility – Floating Pontoon
- $1.1m: Balnarring Recreation Reserve Oval Rehabilitation.
The 2021–22 Priority Projects Budget is $7,954,000. Some projects include:
- $700k: Food Waste Collection
- $310k: Performing Arts Fund
- $252k: Carbon Neutrality
- $225k: Mornington Peninsula Open Space Strategy
- $200k: Arts and Culture Plan
- $200k: Hastings Foreshore Plan
- $175k: Mornington Peninsula Coastal Strategy.
A full copy of the Adopted Budget 2021-22 can be downloaded at mornpen.vic.gov.au/budget
Quote attributable to Mayor Councillor Despi O'Connor:
"On behalf of my Council colleagues, I am delighted to present this 2021-22 Council Budget.
"I'd like to thank everyone who provided feedback on our draft budget in April, your input has been invaluable and has helped shape our thinking. I am pleased that community-driven initiatives such as new bike tracks and an increased capacity to respond to coastal hazard risks are included in this Budget.
"A major focus of this budget is helping our community and local businesses recover from the impacts of Covid-19. We know the pandemic hit the Mornington Peninsula's economy more severely than most other parts of Australia. At its peak last year, 2,205 jobs were lost and 59 per cent of our businesses were on JobKeeper, the highest rate in Victoria and third highest in the nation.
"By investing $10M directly towards recovery projects, initiatives and programs, we will do everything we can to help the Peninsula community bounce back stronger and more resilient.
"Of course, one of the highlights of the Budget is the delivery of the Yawa Aquatic Centre, which opens on 9 July. I can't wait to see our community flock to this state-of-the-art facility!"
