Roads are a focus of Council's proposed Budget 2023-2024 with nearly $10 million to be invested in maintaining and upgrading Corangamite Shire's 2,143 km local roads network.
Councillors released the Draft Budget for public comment at last night's Council meeting.
The $53.7 million Budget includes an operating surplus of $3.79 million and $17 million capital works program.
Council will remain debt-free with no new borrowings.
After a 1.5% rate increase last year and no increase in 2020-2021, Council has proposed a 3.5% rate rise in line with the State Government's Fair Go Rates system, and a $411 waste management charge.
The $17 million capital works program includes:
- $9.4 million for road rehabilitation, resheeting and resealing local roads
- $3.0 million for waste management, including upgrades to the Regional Landfill at Naroghid and Timboon Transfer Station, as well as upfront costs of the new glass collection service
- $1.1 million for bridge and culvert upgrades at Smythe Street, Skipton and Maddens Bridge Road
- $1.9 million to replace plant and equipment
Other initiatives include $320K for grants programs, $100K to upgrade the former Maternal and Child Health Centre in Terang (now Little Acorn Café), $60K towards playground renewal and fitness equipment at Timboon, $60K towards new library collection materials, and a $50K contribution towards the Camperdown public art project.
Mayor Ruth Gstrein said Council aimed to deliver a responsible Budget in a challenging operating environment.
"Maintaining more than half a billion dollars' worth of community infrastructure against a backdrop of significant price increases is a delicate balance," Cr Gstrein said.
"Most of the capital works program is based on existing asset management plans with programmed upgrades to pools, parks, and public buildings such as stadiums.
Some of the major road projects include rehabilitation of:
- Wiridjil Road $645,000
- Vite Vite Road $543,000
- Melrose Road $261,000
- Glenfyne Brucknell Road $392,000
- Sisters Noorat Road $646,000
- Castle Carey Road $396,000
- Old Geelong Road $309,000
- Darlington Terang Road $915,000
"There is also a significant amount of carry forward related to projects such as the Port Campbell Town Centre project, Twelve Apostles Trail and Unlocking Housing Projects in Simpson and Timboon," Cr Gstrein said.
"We continue to be very mindful of how we spend those valuable dollars, and plan for future large-scale projects such as Skipton Community Hub, Mockridge Park redevelopment, and Camperdown Theatre and Innovation Hub."
She said Council remained committed to advocating to the State and Federal Governments for further improvements to the arterial road network.
Mayor Gstrein thanked residents who submitted ideas and feedback at the start of the budget planning process.
"Common themes were roads, footpaths/trails, buildings, libraries and climate action," she said.
"We are committed to taking more action around climate change as outlined in the Community Vision 2040.
"A new Environment and Sustainability Strategy is being developed and this budget will fund actions to help our community and the organisation take positive steps to mitigate and adapt to climate changes," Cr Gstrein said.
Residents are invited to view the Budget at www.corangamite.vic.gov.au/DraftBudget and provide feedback via the online questionnaire by midday, Wednesday 7 June. Anyone providing feedback can make a presentation to a committee of Council on Tuesday 20 June.
Council will consider adopting the Budget on Tuesday 27 June, 7 pm at the Killara Centre, Camperdown.
