Gerald Lynch
Whittlesea council has released its budget for the upcoming financial year, with a number of big ticket capital work projects headlining the list of expenditure.
The 2024-25 budget included $108 million for capital works to deliver new facilities and upgrades to infrastructure.
Some of the highlights include commencing construction of the Regional Sports Precinct in Mernda, continuing the construction of the Granite Hills Major Community Park and the Patterson Drive Community Centre in Donnybrook, and completing the construction of the Aboriginal Gathering Place.
Further, council will commence construction of the Doreen Splash Park and Playground, and continue the upgrade of Peter Hopper Lake in Mill Park.
There was $315 million allocated towards critical services within the municipality, ranging from weekly waste collections, home support, maternal and child health services, and the maintenance of parks, open spaces, local roads, footpaths, playgrounds, and sports fields.
The adoption of the budget followed a period of community consultation, including an opportunity for people to submit feedback and present to a committee on May 6.
Chair administrator Lydia Wilson thanked the community for its input and feedback in the three stages of consultation over the past year.
“I’d like to thank everyone who provided their feedback to help shape the budget and our Community Plan Action Plan for 2024-25,” she said.
“With the increased cost-of-living right across Australia right now and the tightening of funds from other levels of government, Council must be continually cognisant of its expenditure.
“Our community needs us to deliver important infrastructure and services but we must also ensure we are financially sustainable to continue to deliver into the future.”
Council will continue to subsidise waste charges in 2024-25, including the Victorian government’s Landfill Levy, by 22.8 per cent at a cost of $1.9 million.
The budget includes an average rate increase of 2.75 per cent, in line with the rate cap set by the state government.
Council said it will continue to offer support through its financial hardship program for those struggling to keep up amid the cost of living crisis, and the budget has allocated $2.7 million toward community grants that provide benefits to the community.
