By Olivia Condous
Residents of the Moorabool Shire will potentially pay a 1.75 per cent rate increase as the council plans to spend $61 million on capital works in the 2022-23 budget.
The 1.75 per cent increase is in line with the state government’s policy and ratepayers will also have to pay more for waste management and collection fees.
The funding in the council budget includes $34 million to go towards new projects for the shire and $27 million for the renewal and upgrading of existing assets.
Highlights of the proposed budget include $2.8 million for the Bacchus Marsh Indoor Recreation Facility, $0.7 million for the Ballan Library and Community Hub, $1.1 million for the Bald Hill Redevelopment and $6 million for the second stage of the Bacchus Marsh Racecourse and Recreation Reserve.
The budget identifies a total of fifteen projects across the Moorabool Shire set to receive funding.
Council chief executive Derek Madden said the funds were allocated to many of the council’s top priority advocacy projects.
“We have secured funds for some of these projects from other levels of government, but still require more contribution from the Federal and State governments to make these projects a reality,” Mr Madden said.
Councillor Paul Tatchell said he believed the new budget was the largest he’d witnessed in his ten years of council, but was concerned that increased fees would be harmful, with the cost of living already rising.
“Council is supposed to represent people, our role is to look after our communities,
“When the cost of living increases rural people are at a disadvantage because when the price of fuel goes up, we’re hit harder because we have to travel further,” Cr Tatchell said.
The council will accept submissions from the community on the proposed budget until June 9.
Details: moorabool.engagementhub.com.au/2022-23-annual-budget
