This year's Liverpool City Council budget sets up the council to meet the challenges of being one of the state's most rapidly growing cites and meeting the increasing needs of its residents and ratepayers.
Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun said the council has forecast a modest surplus of $3.9 million in a $280 million operating budget with a record high spend of $177.7 million on capital works.
"We are a growing city and council services need to keep pace with the demands this brings so our residents and ratepayers reap the rewards," said Mayor Mannoun.
"This growth budget will employ more staff to ensure council services meet the expected 58.4% population growth by 2041.
"We are budgeting for staff growth: council is allocating $103 million to increase the number of FTE positions from the current 817 to 992 – that's an increase of 175. *
"Additional priorities include: new spending on roads bridges and footpaths ($55.95 million); parks and recreation ($30.4 million); drainage and floodplain management ($24.5 million); buildings and community facilities ($8.55 million) and $652,000 to buy new materials for our libraries.
"Of course, we need to keep the council operating and this budget provides $187 million for the essential services that enhance quality of life.
"This means our staff can do more for the community, taking care of services like mowing, waste collection, community services; and maintaining parks, sporting fields and swimming pools at the levels the residents of Liverpool have come to expect from their council.
"And of course we are grateful for the NSW Government's Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program will see Scott, Macquarie and Railway Streets all upgraded as well as the redevelopment of Woodward Park at Brickmakers Creek.
"In delivering this budget, I am aware there is work still to be done and we will continue to listen to the requests and suggestions from the Liverpool community so we can serve them better.
* Staffing levelsThe actual number of staff employed will be higher, given the current staff physical headcount is 917 (incorporating contractors, casuals and job sharers that are all tied back to and sometimes split between Full Time Equivalent positions).
Budget breakouts
New Spending (Capital Expenditure)
$55.95m - roads, bridges, and footpaths, including:
- $11.7m to upgrade Governor Macquarie Drive and the Hume Highway intersection (part grant funded)
- $3.43m to improve access to Munday St. off Governor Macquarie Drive
- $5m for traffic facilities in Austral/Leppington North
- $2m for traffic facilities in East Leppington
- $3.85m to upgrade the Kurrajong Road/Lyn Parade Prestons intersection*
- $1.7m to upgrade Denham Court
- $1m in cycleways at Hoxton Park, along the bank of the Georges River and Hume Highway Liverpool
- $9.674m in projects funded through WSIGP – including upgrades to Macquarie St., Railway St., and Scott St. in the Liverpool city centre
- $1m towards the road safety construction program
- $4.7m for Edmondson Ave Austral
$30.4m on parks and recreation, including:
- $5.47m for the Carnes Hill Recreation Precinct – aquatic centre*
- $4.3m for sporting facilities at Carnes Hill
- $11.34m for Lighthorse Park open space and play areas and $1.35m for a community hub (WSIGP)
- $770,000 for bush regeneration
- $1.2m for a regional trail pathway at Pye Hill Reserve, Cecil Hills
$652,000 on library materials for Council's six libraries.
$24.5m on drainage and floodplain management, including:
- $6.9m on a new flood detention basin at Austral
- $2m at Edmondson Park*
- $6.1m for Brickmakers Creek at Woodward Park, Liverpool*
- $5.88m for protection works along the Georges River at Powerhouse Road Casula*
$8.55m on buildings and community facilities, including:
- $2.1m on upgrades to the Whitlam Centre in Liverpool City Council
- $1.1m for the former RFS site at Austral*
- $1.7m for sporting amenities at Carnes Hill
- $860k on sporting amenities including a new amenities building at Clermont Park in Edmondson Park
* Indicates a project funded through a grant
