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Council seeks community feedback on draft 2018/19 Budget

Send your feedback for draft 2018/19 budget

By Portal Admin - 20th May 2018 - Back to News

Bass Coast Shire Council has released its draft 2018/19 Budget for community feedback and consultation. The draft Budget supports the objectives of the Council Plan and continues to reflect last year’s extensive community engagement to ‘Help shape a better Bass Coast’.

The draft Budget remains aligned with Council’s Long Term Financial Plan and focusses on maintaining and upgrading existing assets. The $99 million draft Budget proposes a $21.2 million Capital Works Program, including major, minor and renewal projects such as:

• Supporting the Wonthaggi Shared Highball facility and the second year contribution for Cape Paterson Life Saving Club replacement, $500,000
• Ongoing development of skate parks across the municipality with replacement of the Cowes Skate Park and design for a Regional Skate Park on Phillip Island, $500,000
• Acquisition of land for future community needs in Cowes, $2,000,000
• Further development of the Cowes Transit Centre and all day car park, $727,000
• Construction of the Pioneer Bay roads and drainage upgrade scheme, $4,364,000
• Planning for an upgrade to the car park at Anderson Road Boat Ramp, Cowes, $25,000
• Master Plan works for the Beachcomber YCW activity area, $15,000
• Design of Olive Justice Park, Cowes $25,000
• Upgrade of lighting at the Inverloch Tennis Club, $40,000
• Works and signage for the Corinella Boat Ramp car park, $45,000
• A contribution to the Inverloch Soundshell, $45,000
• Refurbishment of the netball courts at Cowes, Bass and Dalyston, $920,000
• Extension of Surf Parade shared path to Goroke St, Inverloch, $926,000
• Replacement of the pavilion at Dalyston Recreation Reserve, $1,100,000
• Replacement of the air conditioning at the Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre, $350,000
• Refurbishment of the Phillip Island Football Club rooms, $350,000
• Rehabilitation of Loch-Wonthaggi Road, Kongwak, $300,000
• Rehabilitation of Ventnor Beach Road, Ventnor, $317,000
• Renewal of Bourne Creek (Kilcunda) Trestle Bridge, $400,000

Council’s day-to-day operational costs have also been contained below CPI to less than 1.9 per cent compared to 2017/18 Budget. This figure excludes one-off contributions such as the Wonthaggi Highball Facility, Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club and additional recycling processing costs.

The increase in the annual garbage charge is $38 on last year, now $412.00. This is mostly made up of additional processing costs associated with changes in the overseas recycling market that has affected the waste industry and many councils across Australia. It also includes the full year costs of the three bin kerbside waste collection service.

Our agricultural community continues to be supported with a rating differential of 80 per cent, as well as the opportunity to apply for the Rural Land Management Program worth $604,555.

Additional resources in Council’s Planning and Engineering departments have been provided to meet increasing demand from record growth and development activity in the region. This means that the total full time equivalent (FTE) staffing has increased by three FTE; however, it continues to remain well below the high in 2014/15 of 334.76 at a budgeted 319.0 in 2018/2019 – including a decrease in management positions of 6.0 FTE over the same period.

Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, said she was pleased that the draft Budget continues to deliver the themes of the Council Plan, and encourages the community to get engaged and provide feedback over the next month.

"It seems like only yesterday that we were wrapping up the consultation and putting together last year’s budget to outline how Council will fund the community’s priorities from year one of the Council Plan," Cr Rothfield said.

"Here we are again, now preparing year two with the 2018/19 Budget. I strongly encourage our community to provide us with their feedback, and help us deliver an efficient and financially responsible budget for the next 12 months.

"We are still committed to maintaining services and our infrastructure, while delivering projects that are valued by our community. And, we are doing this again within the rate cap of 2.25 per cent as set by the State Government," Cr Rothfield said.

Making a submission

The draft Budget can be viewed at www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/budget or at Council’s Customer Service Centres in Wonthaggi, Cowes, Inverloch and Grantville.

Community Information Sessions will be held in:

• Cowes – Monday, 30 April at Cowes Cultural Centre Meeting Room 1, 91-97 Thompson Ave from 6.30pm to 7.30pm
• Grantville – Tuesday, 1 May at Grantville Hall, 1470 Bass Hwy from 6.30pm to 7.30pm
• Wonthaggi – Monday, 7 May at Old Wonthaggi Post Office, Cnr Watt Street and McBride Avenue from 6.30pm to 7.30pm
• Facebook – Tuesday, 8 May at www.facebook.com/basscoastshire from 6.30pm to 8.00pm

Submissions to the draft Budget can also be made in writing by emailing basscoast@basscoast.vic.gov.au or by mail, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Bass Coast Shire Council, PO Box 118, Wonthaggi, 3995. If you wish to speak to your submission, you must advise Council within your email or letter. The consultation period closes at 5.00pm on Tuesday, 22 May 2018 and submissions will be heard from 4.30pm on Wednesday, 30 May 2018 at a Special Meeting of Council in Wonthaggi’s Council Chambers.

The final 2018/19 Budget will be presented at the Ordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday, 20 June for adoption, along with the outcome of any submissions.

For further information about the proposed budget, contact Council on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com