Hume council should not become obsessed with paying off debt at the expense of funding necessary projects, according to Cr Adem Atmaca.
The former mayor said that while he praised the council’s efforts in reducing a borrowings debt of almost $28 million to just $1.8 million, he didn’t want it to limit investment in the fast-growing municipality’s future.
“It’s good to be debt-free, but at what consequence?’’ Cr Atmaca said. “I wouldn’t like this to be used as an excuse in the future, when projects come up, to say we can’t afford it.”
The council’s $218.88 million draft budget for 2016-17, which proposes an average rates increase of 2.5 per cent in line with the state government cap, was released to the public at a meeting at Sunbury Civic Centre on May 9.
A total of $74.10 million has been slated for new infrastructure, including $19 million to complete Craigieburn Park and $3 million for the Broadmeadows Town Hall redevelopment.
The council also plans to acquire land for more carparking in Broadmeadows CBD at a cost of $3.2 million, and it will improve parking and traffic flow in suburbs such as Roxburgh Park by creating indented parking bays in narrow streets.
The funding is in response to community concerns about parking.
Work will also start on a Meadowlink walking and cycling path from Seabrook Reserve to the centre of Broadmeadows, at a cost of $2.2 million.
The average household will pay about $45 extra in rates this year. But as this is a revaluation year, the degree of change will vary.
Inequality
Cr Atmaca said inequality would continue to be an issue.
“People are telling me their rates are higher than other municipalities based on their land value,” he said.
“We really have to address that. We’ve got some of the poorest people in our community and are paying rates similar to areas with some of Australia’s highest values. That needs to be looked at.”
Cr Geoff Porter said he was happy to support a budget and council plan that “created a strong legacy for future generations”.
“To me, the best news is Hume, debt free. What a great news story for this community to know,” he said.
Cr Casey Nunn welcomed the continuation of a “budget build bonanza” in Aitken ward, which covers Craigieburn, Greenvale, Mickleham, Roxburgh Park and Campbellfield.
She said close to $100 million had been invested in the past four years.
Mayor Helen Patsikatheodorou said the budget included the most ambitious capital works program seen in her eight years on the council.
“We want to deliver facilities and services as [the community] needs them, not 50 years down the track,” she said. “This is the Hume story for 2016-17 – huge investments in services and community facilities, combined with a low rates increase, a budget in surplus and virtually no debt.”
with Matt Crossman
