Council delivers $716 million draft balanced budget

Council delivers $716 million draft balanced budget

Published on 30 April 2020

Blacktown City Council has delivered a balanced 2020/21 draft budget but warns that adjustments will have to be made in the coming months due to the impact of COVID-19.

Council has adopted a draft budget of $716 million for the 2020/21 financial year, including a major capital works program of more than $224 million. This represents Council’s second largest budget spend ever following the record $736 million 2019-20 budget.

Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said: “This budget delivers on promises made to residents and business alike.

“This budget is balanced and financially responsible, and enables the continuation of the transformation of Blacktown into a modern, sustainable city despite funding shortfalls from the Federal and NSW Governments, and a NSW Government imposed income cap.”

However Mayor Bleasdale warned, “Like the rest of the world, Blacktown City is living and operating under the health and economic cloud of coronavirus COVID-19.

“We are acutely aware that the pandemic will have a major impact on our budget going forward.

“Council staff commenced work on 2020/21 budget during 2019, long before COVID-19 became a reality. We are continuing to develop and implement short, medium and long-term responses to the pandemic.

“The cost to Council of the COVID-19 pandemic is estimated at more than $22 million over the next 12 months.

“We will have to make budget adjustments in the coming months due to responses to the pandemic by Council and the Australian and NSW governments that impact on our income and expenditure.”

“We need to maximise savings and make practical cuts where we can without adversely impacting on our community and service delivery.

“However, Council is totally committed to delivering the City’s transformational projects. The Warrick Lane precinct CBD redevelopment, an International Centre of Training Excellence at the Blacktown International Sportspark and a world-class Animal Rehoming Centre, will all proceed.

“In addition, we will see students studying in a new Australian Catholic University campus in the Blacktown CBD in 2021 and we will continue to operate one of the state’s largest childcare programs.”

Deputy Mayor, Julie Griffiths said: “This year’s budget delivers increased spending on service delivery while at the same time maintaining high levels of spending on infrastructure to support in the City’s rapid growth and development.

“Providing vital services such as waste management, childcare, roads, footpaths, libraries and leisure centres are the cornerstone of Council’s operations.

“Council is allocating nearly $25 million to our childcare centres as well as $9.9 million to our libraries that attract 1.5 million visitors each year.

“Our parks are the lungs of our City. Council is spending $49.2 million on the purchase and maintenance of our City’s parks, reserves, playgrounds and sporting fields.

 “We are allocating $110 million in 2020/21 for construction and maintenance of roads, footpaths and bridges.” Deputy Mayor Griffiths said.

 “We are the largest Council in NSW with more than 395,000 residents. Council is a major employer and business in Western Sydney and we remain committed to maintaining jobs, paying our creditors, providing quality services, facilities and infrastructure for our residents and businesses.” Mayor Bleasdale said.

Blacktown City Council 2020/21 Budget key points.

Budget forecast spending for 2020/21 - $716 million

$224 million allocated to major capital works in 2020/21 including:

$27 million towards the Western Sydney Animal Rehoming Centre $11.5 million towards the Warrick Lane transformational project (from a total allocation to this project of $76.5 million) $74 million for the ICTE project at the BISP (from a total allocation to this project of $100 million) $35.6 million for the purchase of land in the new release areas to deliver essential infrastructure $19 million for new roadworks in the growing areas of Riverstone, Schofields, Rouse Hill and Marsden Park $4.5 million for new drainage and stormwater in the growing areas of Riverstone, Rouse Hill and Marsden Park $5.3 million for new open space in the growing areas of Riverstone and Schofields $6.2 million to upgrade facilities at Council’s sporting grounds.

$369 million is allocated to the ongoing provision of services, programs and maintenance including:

$55.7 million for the operation and maintenance of waste collection and management services. $24.7 million for the operation of Kids’ Early Learning (KEL) child care centres. $9.9 million for the operation of 5 libraries. Our libraries attract more than 1.5 million visitors and host over 2,000 events, each year. $21.1 million will go towards the operation of 5 Leisure Centres, the Leo Kelly Arts Centre, Blacktown, and to other community and recreational facilities.

The Blacktown City Council draft 2020/21 Operation Plan and budget documents will be available for public comment on Council’s website: www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au. from May 6.