Cardinia Shire Council adopts 2023-24 Budget

Council received and considered a total of 286 submissions from the community during the budget development process from December 2022 to May 2023.

Cardinia Shire Mayor Councillor Tammy Radford thanked the community for their involvement in shaping the budget.

“Thank you to everyone who participated in reviewing the draft budget and submitting feedback. Your input and involvement are invaluable and ensure we put our resources and effort toward the right things to best serve our community now and into the future,” Mayor Radford said.

“We’re committed to making informed and strategic financial decisions that effectively meet the needs of our community and deliver in the areas most important to you. The 2023-24 budget reflects our shared priorities.”

The 2023-24 Budget has been designed to reflect Council’s commitment to make Cardinia Shire the best possible place to live, work and raise a family.

Budget highlights

To deliver on the community’s priorities through the Council Plan 2021–25, Council prepares four-year rolling budgets, which undergo community consultation and are adopted annually.

The budget reflects Council’s prudent fiscal management, which has enabled an extensive capital works program to be included, and all vital community services to be maintained or enhanced.

The 2023–24 budget includes allocations for the following key projects:

Better Local Roads – Princes Highway intersection upgrades – $17.9m Better Local Roads – Sealing the Hills – $16.3m Integrated Children’s Facility (Brunt Road) – $7.0m Koo Wee Rup Bowls and Community Facility – $5.4m Integrated Children’s Facility (Thewlis/Cardinia Road) – $4.0m Garfield Netball Pavilion Upgrades – $3.6m Officer District Masterplan – Civil Works – $3.5m Cardinia Youth Facility – $2.5m Upper Beaconsfield Recreation Reserve – $1.4m Pakenham Tennis Club Relocation (Club Room Renovation) – $1.0m

The capital works program for the financial year 2023-24 is $113.8m (including $29.3m carryover from 2022-23), with $69.2m dedicated to the renewal and upgrade of our $2.3 billion worth of community assets.

 The program ensures residents across the shire have access to an expanding range of new recreational and leisure facilities and renewed and upgraded infrastructure.

$59 million is budgeted for all roads and intersection upgrade programs, including the $17.9m ‘Princes Highway Intersection upgrades’ and $16.3m ‘Sealing the Hills’ programs.

Other capital works budget allocations for 2023–24 include:

recreation, leisure, and community facilities – $13.3m drains and bridges – $2.2m footpaths and cycleways – $1.4m parks, open space, and streetscapes – $3.4m property, including construction and upgrades of buildings – $30.4m Plant, equipment, and lighting - $4.1m

General rates in 2023–24 will increase 3.50 per cent, in line with the Victorian Government’s rate cap this year. This rate increase is well below current and projected inflation, as well as service contract and supply chain cost increases and staff enterprise agreement commitments. The rate cap continues to put additional pressure on Victorian councils to deliver services with significantly reduced revenue.

Reflecting the Victorian Government’s increase to the waste levy and increased waste and garbage contract costs, the residential garbage charge is $348.60 for a 120L garbage bin and a 240L recycling bin in 2023–24. The green waste charge will increase marginally from $129.00 to $133.20 for a 240L bin.

Council also amended the Budget Fees & Charges Schedule to include free Annual Parking passes for Cardinia Shire residents for Emerald Lake Park and included a $40 annual charge for non-Cardinia Shire residents.

For more information and to view the 2023-24 Budget, visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/budget