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Budget Bonus

Wellington Shire Council has won an income boost of some $1 million per year for the next four years, thanks to additional Government grants just confirmed.

By Wellington Shire Council - 24th June 2005 - Back to News

The welcome news increases the council’s budget for the financial year 2005-2006 from $47.6 million to $48.6 million, with the additional funding comprising an anticipated extra $500,000 per year from the Victorian Grants Commission, together with a further $2.1 million in Roads to Recovery funding from the Federal Government over the next four years.

Importantly this will enable the council to fund a backlog of capital works projects – reinstating some important initiatives originally excluded from the draft 2005-2006 budget, such as:

· $250,000 to refurbish sealed roads;

· $50,000 to upgrade intersections on sealed and unsealed roads;

· $30,000 for street trees in Johnson Street Maffra.

Existing programs set to benefit from the additional funding include:

· resealing of rural roads – up from $750,000 to $830,000;

· reconstruction of gravel roads – up from $525,000 to $700,000;

· renewal of footpaths – up from $110,000 to $160,000.

The council formally adopted its 2005-2006 budget of $48.6 million, (which represents an increase of $4.6 million on the current year), at its Council Meeting this week.

The overall rate revenue increase of 6.9%, which includes a rate rise of 4.55%, is also supported by a $6 increase in the municipal charge (from $142 to $148). The garbage charge remains unchanged at $160.

To help it comply with Environment Protection Authority (EPA) requirements, state legislation and sound waste management practice, the council is introducing a new charge for waste infrastructure of $25 to specifically fund future environmentally sustainable waste facilities. This will bring Wellington Shire into line with many other municipalities across Victoria.

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This will enable more than $16 million to be targeted at the council’s capital investment program over the coming financial year, for a number of significant initiatives. As well as increasing the overall funding directed at maintaining/upgrading the shire’s road network, bridges and buildings (assisted by the additional funding mentioned earlier) this also includes:

· completion of the $2.4 million Rosedale Multipurpose Community Centre;

· completion of the $980,000 Stockyard Point (Port Albert) redevelopment;

· commencing redevelopment of the $6.8 million Lex Glover Regional Aquatics Complex;

· $111,000 of improvements and upgrade work to enhance council swimming pool facilities at Heyfield, Stratford and Yarram;

· $150,000 to refurbish public toilets in the shire;

· $100,000 of redevelopment work for playgrounds;

· completion of the $770,000 Yarram Transfer Station.

In addition the council will be increasing the level of funds channelled into such areas as asset management, planning and environmental health, as part of its ongoing drive to enhance the quality of services it delivers to the community.

Acting on submissions received in relation to the draft budget, the council is also pleased to make contributions to the following projects identified by the community:

· $20,000 towards the design and development of Loch Sport Public Hall;

· an $11,000 contribution to the public jetty at McLoughlins Beach, subject to a successful funding application to Marine Safety Victoria;

· $7,500 for works at Yarram’s Regent Theatre;

· $7,000 towards banner brackets for Christmas decorations;

Wellington Shire’s firm debt reduction strategy of the last five years has seen debt fall from a high of $23 million in 1999 to $11.7 million at the end of 2005/06. This has placed the council in a healthy financial position to begin addressing the backlog of infrastructure renewal costs and will see it investing over $60 million over the next four years to tackle this area and fund major new capital initiatives.

The farming industry is again recognised as a significant contributor to the shire’s economy as the council maintains a differential rate in 2005/06 for this section of the community.

Said Wellington’s Mayor Peter Gault: "This is a strong and realistic budget designed to further stabilise the council’s financial position, while at the same time addressing priorities for action identified by the local community and delivering on some major initiatives. The additional funding has given us the opportunity to carry out more maintenance and improvement works to our road network, and to allocate more to footpaths, toilets and other community facilities."


Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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