Moorabool council is set to deliver $15.3 million in capital works as part of its proposed 2015-16 budget.
New projects will be funded from part of a proposed five per cent rate increase.
Moorabool council chief executive Rob Croxford says capital works are the draft budget highlight with much-needed infrastructure being targeted.
“Some of the big projects include the Darley early-years hub, which will provide extra three and four-year-old kindergarten places to address the shortage of places in Bacchus Marsh,” Mr Croxford said.
“It’s a good project that is well and truly needed.”
Another is a road link between Maddingley over the river to Halletts Way, part of one of the council’s largest infrastructure projects.
The Darley sports ground change rooms will be upgraded and road rehabilitation works will be undertaken throughout the shire, including at Navigators, Darley, Mt Egerton, Lal Lal, Ballan and Gordon.
Mr Croxford said the capital works would help tackle some of the shire’s biggest problems, including traffic congestion and the need for more sports and recreational facilities.
The draft 2015-16 budget also foreshadows new initiatives and services, including ongoing asset maintenance and an increase in resources for maternal and child health.
Mr Croxford said ratepayers could expect a 2.25 per cent drop in their garbage charges to offset the impact of the forecast rate rise.
“With a reduction in some of our garbage costs, the average overall rate increase comes out at about 4.1 per cent,” he said.
The council foreshadows increasing borrowings by $4.48 million in the next financial year. Mr Croxford said that was essential to deliver capital works, despite the heightened financial exposure.
“We are at a point now that our debt repayments trail off fairly quickly,” Mr Croxford said. “The council is comfortable that it’s not putting us into any financial risk.”
He said the council faced uncertain times with a rates cap limited to the consumer price index coming into effect next year, and the state government-imposed cap would have a “huge effect”. Public feedback on Moorabool’s draft budget closes May 25.
Submissions: info@moorabool.vic.gov.au, or haveyoursaymoorabool.com.au
