Six community projects, valued at more than $240,000 have been added to Hume council’s 2017-18 budget.
The projects were added following community consultation and resident submissions about the council’s draft budget.
The added projects include funding for carpark lighting and asphalt surfacing at Dallas’ Laura Douglas Reserve, improvement to the club facilities at Progress Reserve, Coolaroo and in-kind support for Hume Community Orchestra.
The council will spend a record $79.8 million on capital works projects in the coming year.
Mayor Drew Jessop said the budget reflected the “biggest investment ever” in the future of the city.
“Council is motivated by a commitment to make the lives of our community better,” he said. “In 2017-18 we will do this by investing in integral community services, local roads for new and existing areas, community centres, leisure, parks and reserves. In all, this is the largest ever spend on infrastructure in Hume.”
Included in the capital works budget is $10.7 million to begin the redevelopment of Broadmeadows town hall. The $23.3 million project will redevelop the town hall into a community space and business hub, with a large multi-purpose hall, meeting rooms and conference facilities.
The project is expected to be finished in 2019.
More than $2.2 million has been set aside to implement the masterplans for Willowbrook, Greenvale and D.S. Aitken recreation reserves.
The council will also spend $400,000 on its indented parking in narrow streets program, which is aimed at addressing parking problems in residential streets across the city.
