At its Council Meeting on Tuesday 23 June 2020, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council made the decision to re-advertise its Proposed Budget 2020/21 which will now be on public exhibition until 5pm Thursday 30 July 2020.
Following the consideration of the S223 submissions, Council reviewed the Rating Strategy by proposing to abolish the Rural Living Rate and rating these properties under the General Rate.
As changes in the Rating Strategy are considered to be material, the Shire is required to put the Budget back on public exhibition under the section 128 of LGA.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor Councillor Sam Hearn said we received 233 number of S223 submissions, including a number about the Rural Living rate.
"After assessing and discussing these submissions we have listened to the feedback from the community that the Rural Living rate is not likely to improve the protection of Green Wedge of the Shire and determined to remove this differential rate".
"On behalf of council I want to thank the community for their input to this process and remind the community that all previous S233 submissions will still be considered as part of the budget and are not required to be re-submitted".
The state government sets out the maximum amount Councils may increase rates in a year. For 2020/21 the rate cap has been set at 2.0%.
The Proposed Budget includes changes to some elements of the Rating Strategy, recognition of properties under Trust For Nature, cease of Rural Living Rate and increase to the Waste Service Charge.
The Proposed 2020/21 Capital Works Budget is $52.5M. Some big-ticket items include:
- $11.2M – Our Aquatic Centre (including traffic signal installation)
- $1.5M – Tyabb Preschool upgrade
- $1.3M – Tennis Strategy implementation
- $1.5M – Somerville Active Recreation Hub
- $1.9M – Merricks Station Grounds Master Plan
- $1.2M – Rye Township Plan
- $4.0M – Road Resealing and Rehabilitation Works
- $1.8M – Footpath Renewal Program
- $1.0M – Emergency Drainage Works
- $650k – Merricks / Stanleys Rd Intersection - Roundabout Construction
- $900k – Narambi Reserve, Mornington – Junior Oval Construction
- $530k – Marna Reserve, Dromana – Netball Courts Renewal
Projects in the Proposed $4.3M Priority Projects Program include:
- $100k – Hinterland Environmental Water Scheme: Feasibility Study
- $100k – Social Housing Projects Facilitation
- $400k – Climate Emergency Program to support strategic objectives
- $360k – Biolinks Weed Management
- $100k – Heritage Review - Stage 4
- $75k – Dromana Community Hub Business Case
- $40k – Strategic Plan for Libraries
Written submissions should be submitted online at: mornpen.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay.
