David Braithwaite
Rate revenue to increase by 1.5 per cent
WELLINGTON Shire Council has released its draft 2021-22 budget for public comment.
Council is proposing a 1.5 per cent increase in general rate revenue, in line with the state government’s cap on rate increases.
Following a review of waste management costs, council proposed to increase the garbage charge from $222 to $234.20, and the Environment Protection Authority levy charge from $16.92 to $18.15.
This will cover increases in the prescribed municipal and industrial waste levies, as set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The waste infrastructure charge will remain at $55.
The draft budget is available for public comment on the council website and from local libraries and council service centres in Sale and Yarram.
Council will receive written submissions until May 19, and will consider these and verbal submissions during a special meeting on May 27.
The 2021-22 budget will be formally adopted during council’s June 15 meeting.
Council is forecasting a surplus of $19 million, much of it because of receiving government grants.
For the current financial year, council is looking at an $8.9 million surplus, having received part of its 2020-21 allocation of grants late in the 2019-20.
During Tuesday night’s council meeting, deputy mayor Scott Rossetti said the draft budget reflected council’s “focus on consolidation” for assets and services.
“It actually shows a surplus for the 21-22 year, however, when you factor out the substantial state government grants which are allocated to infrastructure, our true operating result comes close to break even,” he said.
“We continue to be in a rate-capped environment.
“This year we propose increasing to the rate cap of 1.5 per cent, which is the lowest rate cap we’ve seen during this rate capping process.
“We actually were zero per cent in our last budget, which, ultimately, is difficult to sustain if you wanted to sustain the current services.
“With materials and service costs continuing to rise, it’s been a real focus on maintaining and reducing costs to ensure that we are actually able to remain financially sustainable in the future, because a lot of the costs that council has are increasing higher than the CPI (inflation) rate and certainly higher than the rate cap rate.
“A lot of work has gone into how we can do things more efficiently and better, which is a good thing that we should all be doing anyway.
“We also continue to look for opportunities that lead the sector in improving our cost structure, while at the same time providing efficient operation on community services.”
The draft budget includes $50 million in capital works, including projects carried over from the current financial year.
Of the $44.5 million in new works, $22.9 million will be funded by council, $18.3 million from external grants and contributions and $3.3 million from borrowings.
In Sale, council has allocated $2.77 million for the redevelopment of the Stephenson Park change rooms, $1.995 million for an environmental education centre and wetland project, $1.786 million to renew York St, and $751,000 for a roundabout at the intersection of Lansdowne and Macarthur Sts.
Maffra Recreation Reserve’s netball courts and lights will be upgraded, with $435,000 allocated, while $300,000 will go towards the town’s stormwater retention basin and outfall improvement works.
Pound Rd, Yarram, will be widened ($770,000), and works will begin on a heated pool in Yarram ($320,000).
Gordon St, Heyfield, will be renewed between George and Harbeck Sts ($450,000), and the Great Southern Rail Trail will be extended from Welshpool to Alberton ($1.8 million).
The Briagolong tennis courts will be upgraded ($571,000), road safety treatments and car park work will be undertaken in Loch Sport ($400,000) and the Seacombe boat ramp will be upgraded ($39,000).
The budget includes $14.5 million for roads, bridges and drainage, plus $3.9 million on residential street schemes and $10.7 million on footpaths.
