Liam McNally
Melton council has drafted a $239 million 2023-24 budget that will be available for community feedback until 5pm Tuesday, June 13.
The draft budget includes a $114 million of capital works to be built in the municipality, and a rate increase of 3.25 per cent for all properties, below the state cap of 3.5 per cent.
The budget also reaps an operating surplus of $369.4 million from a $608.9 million operating income.
A $29.44 million dollar spend on roads is the highest category of capital works, which includes $10.35 million for Bridge Road, Strathtulloh, $4 million for Hume Drive in Taylors Hill, $3.75 million for Bulmans Road, Melton West and $1 million for the Taylors Road duplication and intersection upgrade of Gourlay Road.
Other traffic management projects include $4.58 million for a roundabout at the intersection of Greigs Road and Mount Cottrell Road, and $3.7 for a signalised intersection at Caroline Springs Boulevard and Rockbank Middle Road.
New community hubs will include $5.76 Million for one on Bridge Road, $3.34 million for Diggers Rest.
Spending for council’s ongoing services includes $8.1 million committed to maternal and child health services, $8.3 million for services and programs for older people and people with a
disability and their carers, $4.4 million for children, family and youth services, $4.9 million towards the continued provision of library and learning hubs in Caroline Springs and Melton and Funding for community festivals including Djerriwarrh Festival, FlavourFest, Lakeside Alive and Carols by Candlelight.
Melton mayor Lara Carli said Melton is investing in Victoria’s fastest growing municipality “to make sure Melton stays a great place to live, work and play for everyone”.
“Council is pleased to support 18 community ideas to the tune of $1.6 million and I thank the community for helping shape our budget to deliver the initiatives that are most needed,” she said.
“Community input has been an integral aspect for this year’s budget preparation. Ensuring that we deliver a fair and sustainable budget that aims to strike the right balance between keeping the costs of living down while delivering better services for a growing community, along with more infrastructure and the projects our community expects.”
