Major infrastructure projects are at the top of the agenda for Melton and Moorabool councils in their 2018-19 budgets.
Melton council has committed nearly
$80 million to capital works
Among the big-ticket items are $25 million on recreational facilities, including $900,000 on a female changeroom upgrade program; $2.9 million on the design and construction of City Vista sports ovals, tennis and netball courts and pavilion; and $2.7 million on the completion of the Caroline Springs Leisure Centre redevelopment and construction of a sub-regional tennis facility. Another $17 million has been earmarked for roads.
The most significant of those include $915,000 for the duplication of Hume Drive, $4.78 million for the Westwood Drive bridge, $3.151 million towards pedestrian level crossing upgrades at Hopkins, Troups, Leakes, Paynes, Mt Cottrell and Ferris roads, and
$2.23 million on sealed-road resurfacing.
Rate increases across Melton will be capped at 2.25 per cent in line with the state-imposed limit, with council expecting to collect about $134 million in the next financial year.
Melton mayor Bob Turner said community feedback was integral to ensuring community needs were met in the coming financial year.
“It’s very exciting to map out all the wonderful things we hope to achieve next year, through the budget,” Cr Turner said.
“We have a significant capital works budget, which shows council is committed to continuously improving the municipality for our residents to ensure the city is the best place to live, work and play.”
Moorabool council has budgeted $20 million for capital works.
Funds allocated for the widening of Ormond Road in Springbank total about $600,000, while widening of Werribee Vale Road at Maddingley will come in at nearly $500,000.
The state government contributed $374,202 and $325,000 respectively to these two
projects.
Moorabool rates will increase by 2.11 per cent, below the state-imposed cap of 2.25 per cent, due to an accounting error in the 2017-18 rate calculation.
