$5 million in capital expenditure included in draft Council budget

Communities within Bland Shire will benefit from more than $5 million of capital expenditure after the Council endorsed its draft budget for 2020/2021 on Tuesday, 21 April.

Council’s draft budget for the coming financial year, which will achieve a truly balanced budget for 2021,and will be formally adopted after the public exhibition period..

The $5 million of capital expenditure detailed in the draft budget 2020/21 includes $433,000.00 of State Government funding, which will ensure continuing opportunities for local tradespeople and local businesses once the Covid-19 pandemic reaches an end.

Council’s two business units being Waste Collection and Sewer will continue to operate with a cost neutral outcome.

Council is also continuing to place the rate income from the Lake Cowal Gold Mine into a community facilities and economic development reserve to ensure that if and when the mine ceases operation there will be no impact on Council’s future operating budget.

Some of the capital projects to be undertaken by Council in the next financial period include:

•           The purchase of new outdoor Fitness Equipment

•           Floodlighting of the Big Football in Ungarie

•           The purchase of new playground equipment for the Monash Street Park

•           Skate Park Upgrade (Funded by the NSW State Government)

•           Purchase of a new pump for the Weethalle Dam Pump

•           New seating for Ron Crowe Oval

•           Further upgrades to the Ron Crowe Oval complex

•           Lighting and upgrade of the Outdoor Basketball Court adjacent to the Stadium (Funded by the NSW State Government)

•           An allocation of $10,000.00 towards Street Art Projects

•           Establishment of a Dog Park adjacent to Cooinda Park (Funded by the NSW State Government)

•           Cemetery improvements at Wyalong, Ungarie and Weethalle

•           Re-tiling of the change rooms at the Holland Park pool complex

Council is also involved in the ‘Southern Lights’ project which will see the roll out of LED street lighting throughout the entire Shire during 2020.

In addition Council will continue to upgrade its major plant and equipment to keep abreast of changes in technology and to ensure the most efficient use of such equipment.

Council’s objective of supporting heritage works within the Shire will be supported by an allocation of $120,000 which will be distributed upon submission of successful applications.

The 2020/2021 draft budget shows a small surplus of around $80,000 after accounting for depreciation of almost $8 million - confirming Council’s ongoing prudent financial management of the income derived from both rates and grants and efficiency gains within Council’s operational areas.

Council is also mindful of the current coronavirus situation and has also applied the rate pegging limit of just 2.6 per cent for the 2020/2021 financial period.

Bland Shire Council is in a strong financial position with sufficient reserves to cater for any unexpected reduction in income from the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic.

All of Council’s Integrated Planning and Reporting Documents are now on public exhibition and ratepayers and residents are encouraged to view these documents on Council’s website and to make comment by the closing date of 5 June 2020.