General News
1 June, 2022
Shire flags $51.3M draft budget
CORANGAMITE Shire Council is inviting residents to have their say on its $51.3 million 2022-2023 Draft Budget.
CORANGAMITE Shire Council is inviting residents to have their say on its $51.3 million 2022-2023 Draft Budget.
The proposed Budget will deliver a $1.8 million operating surplus and will see council remain debt free for a fifth year.
It includes a rate increase of 1.75 per cent, in line with the state government’s rate capping framework.
Waste management charges are forecast to cost $2.3 million, up from $1.6 million in 2021-2022 due to a significant increase in state government levies, sustained high fuel prices and expected high CPI for the June quarter.
As a result, the waste management charge (per eligible household) will increase by 9.13 per cent.
The $17 million capital works program includes:
• $7.61 million for road rehabilitation, roads to recovery projects, resheeting and resealing;
• $1.87 million to replace plant, vehicles and information technology; and
• $1.72 million for buildings including a roof upgrade at the Camperdown saleyards, upgrades at Camperdown long day care, swimming pool renewal and energy and water savings.
Mayor Ruth 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.
“If the draft is adopted, council will spend $836,000 on bridges including $700,000 to replace the timber Digneys Bridge Road with concrete,” she said.
Some of the major road projects include rehabilitation of:
• Old Port Campbell Road (1.97 km), $606,000;
• Vite Vite Road (1.45 km), $542,000;
• Chocolyn Settlement Road (1.36 km), $423,000;
• Castle Carey Road (1 km),$375,000;
• Tesbury Road (940 m), $326,000;
• Baynes Street, Terang (Shadforth Street to Lyons Street),$274,000;
• Williams Road (600 m), $273,000;
• Eastern Creek Road (540 m), $193,000; and
• There is also $450,000 for the Depot Road upgrade extension.
Kerb and channel will receive $376,000 and footpaths and bike paths a further $317,000.
Grants programs continue to be supported with $80,000 each for Facility Grants and Small Business Assistance Grants, $50,000 each for Events and Festivals Grants, Community Grants, Retail
Area Façade Improvement Grants and Environment Support Grants and $17,500 for Quick Response Grants.
Cr Gstrein said the draft budget itemised all of the many services council provides for the community.
“Council is about far more than just roads, rates and rubbish,” she said.
“We also support our community through aged and disability services, early years services, including Family Day Care, immunisation, kindergartens—including an expanded three-year-old kinder program, Maternal and Child Health, Mobile Child Care, youth services, pools and sporting centres.
“One of the really important items in the budget is setting aside funding to address skills shortages.
“There is $120,000 allocated for trainees in early years and another $50,000 for an apprentice.
“This will help future proof council’s capacity to deliver important services and give young people opportunities here in the shire so they don’t have to move away to build a career.”
Cr Gstrein said the draft budget also contains a climate change and emission reduction position to ensure council continues to take meaningful action on climate change.
“I encourage all of our residents to get a copy of the draft budget and have their say,” she said.
“You can download it and leave feedback at corangamite.vic.gov.au/draftbudget or you can get a hardcopy by calling Council on 5593 7100.”
Residents wishing to provide feedback on the proposed budget can do so on the website or in hard copy addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Corangamite Shire Council, PO Box 84, Camperdown, 3260.
Anyone providing feedback can ask that they (or their representative) make an in-person presentation to a committee of council on June 7.
Written and online feedback must be received before midday on Monday, June 6 to enable scheduling of presentations.
Council will meet to consider adoption of the budget on Tuesday, June 28 at 7 pm at the Camperdown Theatre Royal.
Residents requiring information concerning the budget should contact shire manager finance Adam Taylor on 5593 7100.