Whittlesea council will separate its rates and waste charges from July 1 in a bid to protect the council from the Chinese recycling crisis.
Rates notices for 2018-19 will feature a waste charge for the first time, bringing the council into line with most of Victoria’s councils.
The council said the change, adopted as part of the draft budget, will provide it with options to deal with the volatility in the waste and recycling industry without impacting on other services.
Separating the charges won’t raise the council any more money, with total revenue collected through rates and the waste charge to be within the 2.25 per cent rates cap set by the state government.
The draft 2018-19 budget, which was adopted by councillors last Tuesday, also includes a record capital works program of more than $88 million.
The council proposes to spend $12 million redeveloping Mill Park Leisure Centre, $3 million to install signals at the intersection of Ferres Boulevard and Findon Road, and $1 million on an all abilities play space for Mill Park.
Hume council was expected to adopt its draft 2018-19 budget on Monday after Star Weekly went to print.
The draft budget includes close to $73 million in funds to upgrade or build community centres, leisure facilities, parks and reserves.
The council plans to spend $3.02 million on a pavilion at Arena Reserve in Roxburgh Park and $1.2 million to continue the master plans for Westmeadows’ Willowbrook Recreation Reserve and Craigieburn’s D.S. Aitken Reserve.
