Council adopts 2023-2024 Budget
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Published on 27 June 2023
Corangamite Shire Council this week adopted its 2023-2024 Draft Budget containing $66.95 million of operating and capital expenditure.
The proposed Budget will deliver a $3.79 million operating surplus and will see Council remain debt free for a sixth year. It includes a rate increase of 3.5%, in line with the State Government’s rate capping framework.
The waste management charge per eligible household will increase by 4.85% because of inflation on the costs associated with the service and introduction of a new kerbside glass collection service.
The $17 million capital works program includes:
$9.45 million for road rehabilitation, strategic local road upgrades, resheeting and resealing. $3.05 million for waste management, including expanding the Naroghid landfill to accommodate increased volumes upgrading Timboon transfer station and bins for the new kerbside glass collection service. $1.07 million for bridges, including culvert replacement and upgrades at Smythe Street, Skipton and Maddens Bridge Road. $1.86 million for plant and equipment replacement programMayor Ruth Gstrein said the budget maintained Council’s sound financial position with a strong commitment to a high standard of services, complemented by a significant capital works program.
“This budget builds on the ‘Corangamite Vision 2040’ and ‘Council Plan 2021-2025’ to support a connected and thriving community,” Cr Gstrein said.
“While $66.95 million sounds like a lot of money, we are facing a lot of challenges with the wider economic environment and chronic shortages of materials and labour driving up costs.
“This document aims to provide the best outcomes for our community while still living within our means.
“Thank you to everybody who submitted their ideas at the initial planning stages in December, and those who gave us their feedback on the draft version that was released for comment in May.
“The budget planning process is a huge job that really gets down to the nitty gritty of how Council uses ratepayers’ funds to provide the best possible results for the greatest number of people in our Community.
“As usual, our road network is the biggest single area of spending in the Budget spending. In 2023-2024 there will be $17 million for renewals, asset upgrades and new assets.”
Cr Gstrein said Council remained committed to maintaining local roads and advocating to the State and Federal Governments for further improvements to the arterial road network.
Some of the major road projects include rehabilitation of:
Darlington-Terang Road (1.68 km).............................................. $915,000 Wiridgil Road (1.5 km).................................................................... $645,000 Vite Vite Road (1 km)..................................................................... $543,000 Sisters-Noorat Road (1.63 km)..................................................... $646.000 Glenfyne Brucknell Road (0.99 km)............................................. $392,000 Castle Carey Road (1 km)............................................................. $396,000 Old Geelong Road (0.66 km)........................................................ $309,000 and a new road as part of the Unlocking Housing Project at Thomson Road, Terang ................................................................ $810,000Kerb and channel will receive $287,000 and footpaths and bike paths a further $311,000.
Cr Gstrein said the Budget also allocated funding to continue existing community grants programs including:
Quick Response Grants $20,000 Community Grants Funding $50,000 Enabling Grants program $20,000 Business Façade Improvement Program $50,000 Facility Grants $50,000 Facility Design Grants $30,000 Environment Support Grants $50,000 Events & Festivals Funding $50,000“These programs have proved time and again to be very successful ways to enable our community to deliver projects close to their hearts and or benefit to the local economy and to the richness of community life.”