2023-2024 Proposed Budget's flood recovery focus

Published on 24 April 2023

Flood recovery efforts are a key focus of Gannawarra Shire Council’s 2023/2024 Proposed Budget, with Council seeking community feedback regarding this key document up tp 5pm Friday, 26 May.

Council’s financial blueprint for the coming 12 months features a record $38.441 million investment in capital works and an increase in revenue raised through municipal rates revenue that complies with the State Government’s Fair Go Rates System.

“Council’s 2023/2024 Proposed Budget outlines the Gannawarra’s recovery from our second major flood event this century, with $25 million from our capital works program dedicated to infrastructure repairs,” Mayor Charlie Gillingham said.

“These repairs will occur across the Gannawarra, with Council aiming to return our damaged roads, bridges and culverts to a pre-flood standard.”

The 2023/2024 Proposed Budget complies with the State Government’s Fair Go Rates System, which states that the total revenue raised through municipal rates cannot increase by more than 3.5 per cent compared to the previous year.

The municipal charge will remain at $100, whilst due to diverting collections from a Council-owned landfill to the privately-owned Patho landfill, kerbside garbage and waste collection charges will increase. Green waste collection charges will also increase due to a rise in mulching costs.

The capital works program outlined in the 2023/2024 Proposed Budget will also support three major projects that will transform liveability, recreational and tourism opportunities - The Glasshouse @ The Gannawarra project, Stages 3 and 4 of the Kerang CBD Redevelopment, and the Sustainable Recreation Water for Quambatook project.

“The coming 12 months will be an exciting time for the Gannawarra thanks to the construction of these three projects, all supported thanks to partnerships with our State and Federal colleagues,” Mayor Gillingham said.

“The Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program is enabling Stages 3 and 4 of the Kerang CBD Redevelopment to proceed, with the $3.102 million allocated in the 2023/2024 Proposed Budget to enable the transformation of Fitzroy, Victoria and Wellington streets.

“Construction of The Glasshouse @ The Gannawarra at Kerang’s Sir John Gorton Library will occur in 2023/2024, with this $1.413 million State Government-supported project to incorporate a media lab, new meeting spaces and a glass façade that will enable the opportunity for evening activation using light projection and sound.

“Meanwhile, Quambatook residents can look forward to significant improvements to the town’s weir pool and connections between the town and this aquatic oasis, with work on the $1.945 million State Government-supported project to occur in 2023/2024.”

Another of the key features of the 2023/2024 Proposed Budget is the allocation of $384,000 for grants and project funding, including $84,000 for the 2023 Gannawarra Community Grants Program, $150,000 for the Major Community Project Fund and $150,000 to assist with strategic project development.

“Applications for the Gannawarra Community Grants Program will open later this year, which will support community developments on non-Council owned properties, events and small projects that align with the Growing Gannawarra 2021-2025 Council Plan,” Mayor Gillingham said.

Motorists and pedestrians will also benefit from the $3.455 million of road, bridge and footpath improvements throughout the Gannawarra separate to flood repairs, which forms part of the Capital Works program. This includes $1.133 million for the annual gravel road resheeting program, $1.012 for sealed road rehabilitation works, $1.006 million for bitumen road reseal works, $174,000 for kerb replacement and $130,000 for footpath improvements.

“The 2023/2024 Proposed Budget also maintains key services Council provides to the community, such as our popular Children’s and Youth services, libraries, Creative Gannawarra, waste management and recreational facilities,” Mayor Gillingham said.

Residents are able to provide feedback regarding the 2023/2024 Proposed Council Budget online at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/budget up to 5pm Friday, 26 May.

All feedback received will help formulate the final version of the 2023/2024 Budget, which is to be presented to the June 2023 Council Meeting, occurring on Wednesday, 28 June 2023.

The 2023/2024 Gannawarra Shire Council Proposed Budget can be viewed online at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/budget and at Council’s Customer Service Centres at Cohuna and Kerang.