2018/19 Annual Budget Adopted

2018/19 Annual Budget Adopted

Published on 29 June 2018

Baw Baw Shire Council has adopted its 2018/19 Annual Budget and Council Plan 2017-2021 (2018/19 Review) at Wednesday night’s Council Meeting.

The adopted annual budget features a total income of $86.8 million and expenditure of $75.1 million covering operational costs, delivery of over 100 community services and a $22 million investment in Capital Works programs.

Mayor of Baw Baw Shire Councillor Joe Gauci said the adopted budget represents responsible expenditure with community-focused provision of quality services and infrastructure in the growth areas and smaller townships across the Shire.

“We're focused on delivering our legislative requirements and key priorities in the Council Plan, in addition to balancing our capital investment in response to community priorities”, said the Mayor.

“We’re continuing to invest in community assets with both new projects and critical renewal works to ensure we have facilities and infrastructure that supports our diverse and growing population.”

Highlights of the $22 million Capital Works program include: $11.6 million on roads including $1.2 million for Warragul CBD Streetscape Project (Smith Street), $0.9 million for road reconstruction works, $1.2 million for gravel road resheet works, $1.8 million for road resealing works, $0.9 million for major pavement repairs, and $0.7 million for road upgrade/sealing works. $1.4 million for footpaths including $1.2 million for new footpath works and $0.2 million for footpath renewal works. $1.4 million for open spaces including lighting upgrades at Buln Buln Recreation Reserve, Neerim South Recreation Reserve, Trafalgar Recreation Precinct, Downton Park and Bellbird Park. $1.4 million for drainage including $0.5 million for rural road roadside drainage works. $0.2 million on bridges and major culverts.

“We had a great response from the community during this year’s consultation period receiving 54 community submissions, including 14 submitters who spoke in support of their submission at the 6 June 2018 Special Council Meeting", said the Mayor.

“Each year a great deal of work goes into preparing our budget. I thank all staff and community members for their contributions and our Ward Councillors for advocating on behalf of their communities.”

Based on community feedback submissions, amendments to the 2018/19 Annual Budget include: $25,000 for Council’s contribution with DELWP to prepare a business case considering the provision of a sewerage solution for Walhalla and the possibility of subsequent strategic sales of developable Crown land in the township; $200,000 investment increase (from $100,000 to $300,000) for Recreation Design Works; $220,000 investment increase for (from $956,000 to $1,176,000) Road Reconstruction Program; $15,000 for footpath design works from Walhalla Rotunda to the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine; $50,000 for footpath design works for Balfour Road (link Princes Way to Chairo Christian School); Review of the budget allocation for Old Sale Road to be presented to a future Council meeting; and Transfer of $60,000 from existing budget allocations, through the identification of operational efficiencies, to fund a new Youth Officer position.

The budget has been prepared in line with the Victorian Government’s 2.25 per cent rate cap.

The Council Plan 2017-2021 (2018/19 Annual Review) is available for viewing at the A-Z Policies and Documents page on Councils website.

The adopted Council Budget will also be made available for download in coming weeks, once the document has been finalised for print to include the above amendments.