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Strong Emphasis On Capital Works Spending In City BudgetLatrobe City’s 2007/2008 draft budget once again places the emphasis on council allocating additional resources to capital works for a range of projects across the municipality. By Latrobe City - 8th May 2007 - Back to News Latrobe City’s chief executive officer, Paul Buckley, who will recommend the draft budget be released for public consultation at Monday’s council meeting, said the 2007/2008 budget will increase capital works spending to $28.5 million, prioritising key projects being completed and delivered to the community.
$250,000 will be dedicated to implementation of the Churchill Town Centre and East-West Link Project.
$2.25 million will be expended to implement the projects from the Moe Activity Centre Plan.
Recreation receives substantial funding with $1 million allocated to the implementation of stage-one of Latrobe’s Recreation and Leisure strategy which will result in refurbishment of a stadium at the Traralgon West Sports complex and construction of a new pavilion at the Harold Preston Reserve. $130,000 is earmarked for the upgrade to the Morwell Recreation Reserve, and $800,000 has been allocated for an upgrade of Latrobe Leisure Moe Newborough, formerly known as the Moe Newborough Sports Centre.
Upgrading and maintenance of existing infrastructure attracts a large slice of the capital works spending, with $8 million being allocated to roads and drainage; while $2.8 million will deliver Latrobe’s new landfill facility during the financial year, pending the approval process.
Mr Buckley said the 2007/2008 draft budget is financially responsible and has been commended by council’s audit committee. "This is a budget that continues the good work that’s been initiated over the past few years and signs off on a number of key projects that invest in the future liveability of our municipality," Mr Buckley said.
"There are considerable imposts on costs that make it harder each year to keep rates minimal. An example is the 18% increase in road construction materials that we face, together with considerable state and federal government cost shifting as a result of below CPI contributions being made towards a number of services delivered by local government on their behalf.
"Importantly following a year which has not been kind to people on the land, Latrobe continues to provide our agricultural community with relief through the provision of a special farm rate.
"As such, I’m particularly impressed that we have been able to restrict any rate increase to a moderate 5% this year, likely to be the lowest in Gippsland for the second year running," Mr Buckley said.
Should council decide at Monday’s meeting to release the draft budget for community consultation, a four week period of public submission and feedback will commence the next day, with the draft budget available for perusal on council’s website, and available from council’s service centres
"This will provide the community with a much longer period than the statutory requirement to make submissions to council on budget matters, prior to council considering the draft budget for adoption," Mr Buckley added.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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