MOORABOOL Council will hike rates by 6per cent next financial year under a draft budget presented last week.
The rate rise aims to create $37.314 million in revenue for the shire, projecting an underlying deficit of $3.323 million, an improvement of almost $2 million.
The council has allocated a capital works budget of $11 million, with most of the money funnelled into roads and transport.
A total of $7.685 million will go towards renewing assets. Only $673,000 will be spent on new assets and $2.720 million will be allocated to upgrades and expansions.
The pre-planning of Bacchus Marsh’s longed-for indoor aquatic centre was earmarked as having $150,000 of internal funding.
Domestic waste collection has climbed from $155 per rateable property to $170.
Ballan resident Gail Fiandar said more money should be spent on improved footpaths in Ballan and extra lanes in the town’s Steiglitz Street. “Roads need to be improved, all the way through,” she said. “The grounds of where roadworks are cut off is unacceptable. One end of Berry Street washes out every winter.”
Mayor Pat Griffin said the library needs of Ballan had been recognised, with plans for a static library in Ballan and a mobile library for those on the shire’s fringes. He said he looked forward to the community’s feedback.
“Funding we’ve allocated for the Bungaree Community Centre [$2.25million] is great. The community has worked so hard to put it all together; the plans go back five or six years,” he said. “Building will begin straight after the footy season.”
The budget document is available for public viewing, with ratepayers given 28 days to make a submission before it is adopted by the council in the last week of June.
Submissions will be heard at a special meeting in Ballan on June 13.
Have your say at mooraboolweekly.com.au
