Annual Budget and Council Plan adopted for 2018/19

Council adopted its Council Plan 2017-2021 (2018/19 Update) and Budget 2018/19 at the Council Meeting on Monday 21 May.

Maroondah Mayor, Councillor Nora Lamont, said the two documents were key to delivering important services and improvements for the Maroondah community, including $43.68 million in capital works.

“The Council Plan 2017-2021 (2018/19 Update) and Annual Budget 2018/19 were on public exhibition for a month and Councillors have been actively engaging with the community to hear their thoughts,” Cr Lamont said.

“The Budget is based on a major review of the Council’s long-term financial strategy. That strategy now shows that over the next five years Council will manage with modest annual rate increases, no new borrowings, strong capital expenditure and renewal of existing assets, all while maintaining existing service levels.”

The newly adopted 2018/19 Budget seeks to deliver more than 120 services and programs for the community, protect Council’s $1.57 billion in net assets and deliver $43.68 million of capital projects.

The 2018/19 Budget also shows a surplus of $18 million, however, Council is limited in the use of these funds as they are restricted for specific purposes such as: capital grant funding of $13 million; open space developer payments of $4 million and the principal payment on Council’s loan of $1 million.

“In 2018/19, Council will also collect on behalf of the Victorian Government over $11 million in the form of the Fire Services Levy on all properties, Landfill Levy on waste collected and the Domestic Animal Levy on all registered animals.”

Cr Lamont said the annual Budget allocated funding for 16 major initiatives and a further 24 initiatives as identified in the Council Plan 2017-2021 (2018/19 Update).

“These initiatives reflect the present and future needs of the Maroondah community and helps us move towards our Maroondah 2040 community vision of a vibrant and diverse community,” she said.

“The annual Budget also funds more than 120 services that we provide to the community, including child and family health services, supported residential care, social inclusion and wellbeing initiatives, youth programs, crossing supervision, as well as funding for vital programs, particularly in the areas of leisure and culture, the environment and capital works.”

“The Minister for Local Government has determined that for 2018/19 the average property rate will rise by 2.25 per cent. As such, Council will not be seeking a variation to the rate cap, which means the average residential property rate will rise by $12, not including the garbage charge,” Cr Lamont said.

“This budget has been developed through a rigorous process of consultation and review and Council endorses it as a balanced, sustainable and responsible budget that will ensure enhanced services, delivery of important projects, and a financially prudent future for our community,” Cr Lamont said.

Major initiatives

Some major initiatives identified in the Council Plan 2017-2021 include:

$16.5 million – Planning and construction of HE Parker Multi Sports Complex; $3 million – Design and construction of HE Parker Sporting Pavilion redevelopment; $2.7 million – Begin redevelopment of Silcock Sporting Pavilion in Croydon; $2 million – Construction of new Croydon Town Square; $2.5 million – Begin redevelopment of pavilion at Jubilee Park; and Design and construction of redeveloped Springfield Sporting Pavilion. Highlights

Highlights of the 2018/19 Capital Works Program include:

$7.88 million on roads, footpaths, local area traffic management and carparks, including a $3.09 million footpath replacement and construction program at various sites. $22.2 million on buildings and renewal works, including Central Ringwood Community Centre, Croydon Sporting Pavilion, HE Parker Scout Hall, HE Parker Sporting Pavilion, Jubilee Park Croquet Pavilion, Maroondah Montessori Pre-school, Maroondah Preschool and Quambee Sporting Pavilion. $3.47 million for drainage works in Scenic Avenue, Ringwood East, Hull Road in Croydon, and the final stage of Power Street/Croydon North catchment upgrade works. $4.47 million of recreational, parks and open space, including sports fields renovations for Mullum Mullum Oval, playground renewal, and bridge replacement works at Council’s reserves.