At a Council meeting on Tuesday 23 June, the City of Casey adopted its 2020/21 Budget and Strategic Resource Plan, which focuses on supporting the communities' economic recovery from COVID-19 while continuing to provide vital services and infrastructure for our rapidly growing municipality.
Following a four-week public submission period, along with the exhibition of the Draft Council Action Plan, the $536.7 million budget was adopted, which includes an operational investment of $405.1 million and a Capital Works Program valued at 131.6 million.
This year's capital works program will focus not only on the development of additional infrastructure but will also see the completion of more than 50 projects, which were commenced in the last financial year.
Council's impressive 2020/21 Capital Works Program supports the rollout of key community projects; from family and community centres, to sporting reserves, footpaths upgrades, and building renewal works to senior citizen centres and local football clubs.
Highlight's of this year's capital works program include:
- Construction of a new district level soccer and cricket multipurpose community facility at Tulliallan Estate, Cranbourne North ($9.4m)
- Construction of a new district level AFL, cricket and netball facility at Botanic Ridge Eastern Playing Fields, Botanic Ridge ($7.8m)
- Construction of a new Family and Community Centre at Elliston Estate, Clyde Village ($3.97m)
- Building renewal and upgrades to Strong Drive Children's Centre, Hampton Park ($1.33m)
- Construction of new indoor netball facilities at Olive Road Reserve, Eumemmerring ($1.25m)
City of Casey Chair of Administrators Noelene Duff PSM said she was proud to oversee a budget that seeks to strike a balance between financial sustainability that will see Casey through to the other side of the COVID-19 crises, while also being kind and responsive to the growing pressures our residents and ratepayers face each day.
"We understand that there is a lot of angst and concern within the community right now, so this year more than ever before, we are committed to strong financial management, clear decision making and operating in a financially stable manner to ensure that we can assist our community to recover," Ms Duff said.
"While there is a lot of work to be done regarding economic recovery, we're also committed to providing our community with the services and infrastructure that they need to be able to live, work and thrive in Casey.
"This is demonstrated through our outstanding Capital Works Program, as well as our operational budget, which will see major investment in services such as aged and disability care, child, youth and family, roads and parks and open space."
Major service delivery initiatives include:
- $47.7 million to upgrade and deliver new leisure and recreational facilities
- $43.2 million towards Child, Youth and Family services
- $17.7 million towards aged and disability services
- $8.5 million to upgrade and deliver new community facilities
