By Olivia Condous
Melton council adopted it’s 2022-23 budget last night, with a total of $89.03 million in spending on capital works projects.
The council has coined this year’s budget as “family-friendly”, as it prioritises community services and will create more jobs.
The budget has rates capped at 1.75 per cent and an $85 pensioner rebate will be available to eligible homeowners.
Capital works expenditure will include $26.1 million for roads, $14 million for recreational, leisure and community facilities, $2.6 million for footpaths and cycle-ways, $1.3 million for bridges and $452,000 for public art.
Road infrastructure projects to receive funding through the budget included a major upgrade of Bulmans Road, extension of Bridge Road and construction on Troups Road South.
The budget also included funding for construction of a new children and community centre in Thornhill Park, a new kindergarten in Aintree and the Mt Atkinson Children’s and Community Centre.
Several local play spaces also received funding for upgrades, including those at Sovereign Boulevard Reserve, Parkway Reserve, Earlington Square, North Terrace Reserve, Cobblestone Green Reserve and Stretton Drive Reserve.
Melton mayor Goran Kesic said the budget was developed to ensure the community had access to well-maintained road networks, local sporting clubs were supported and local children had access to new and upgraded play spaces.
“We have committed to a substantial recreation infrastructure program including a new Diggers Rest Pavilion, new Mt Atkinson Active Open Space Precinct and stage two of the Bridge Road Recreation Reserve Redevelopment,” Cr Kesic said.
He thanked residents and community groups who had shared ideas and visions for their city in budget engagement sessions.
“Your ideas and local knowledge have been invaluable and have enabled us to prepare a budget that’s not only fair and equitable, but also strives to achieve the timely delivery of infrastructure, programs and services for our community.”
