Hume council has defended claims that its 2015-16 budget is too focused on the east of the municipality.
Cr Jack Ogilvie last week made a lone stand against the draft budget, which proposes an average rates increase of 5.3 per cent, saying there was little in it for Sunbury.
With a state government cap on rate rises looming, Cr Ogilvie also said the council should have focused on trimming the budget to make the increase more in line with CPI.
‘‘Councils can either be serious about this or laugh off what the community is saying about cutting costs,’’ he said.
‘‘There’s a perfect storm coming.’’
Cr Ogilvie said ‘‘all the big money’’ was being spent in areas like Craigieburn, with some projects in Sunbury either carried over or restricted to the planning stages.
Chief executive Domenic Isola said the draft budget delivered significant funding to projects that would benefit Sunbury families, including planning for a new warm water pool at Sunbury Aquatic Centre ($400,000), designs for a new civic centre ($2 million) and reconstruction and duplication of a Wildwood Road bridge.
A total of $1.75 million has been set aside to redevelop the McMahon pavilion at Clarke Oval. Also funded was the refurbishment of a pavilion at Langama Park ($650,000) and works at the Riddell Road landfill.
Mayor Adem Atmaca said the Clarke Oval works would benefit a large number of people from community organisations including Sunbury Lions Football and Netball Club, Sunbury Cricket Club and the agricultural society.
‘‘Sport plays a crucial role in our community, and it’s a great way for people to get to know each other and form friendships.’’
Sunbury Residents Association president Bernie O’Farrell said the rates increase was roughly four times the CPI.
‘‘It’s completely irresponsible,’’ he said, also taking aim at increasing debt levels.
‘‘They seem to be wanting to saddle future ratepayers with a significant level of debt to fund a level of infrastructure that is unjustified.’’
Sunbury Community Progress Association president Alison Cunningham said the town continued to get a fair deal.
‘‘People in Craigieburn pay rates too,’’ she said.
‘‘Some years some places will get more than others … the council has been quite fair in what it’s doing.’’
The budget is expected to be formally adopted next month.
Related
Hume rates up 5 per cent, Sunbury split on hold
