The City of Casey has prepared it's 2019/20 Draft Budget, which features a record infrastructure investment of $158.7 million to continue to deliver the projects needed for our large and growing community now and into the future.
Council adopted the draft budget for community consultation at a Council Meeting on Tuesday 7 May, along with the revised Council Plan 2017-21 and Annual Action Plan 2019/20, with residents now invited to have their say until Thursday 6 June.
Through financially responsible budgeting, Council has been able to continue its strong investment in the necessary projects and services for Casey's large and rapidly growing community. It includes:
- A $158.7 million Capital Works Program (CWP) to deliver much-needed infrastructure for our new and growing communities as well as renew facilities in our established suburbs.
- A $344.8 million operating budget that provides funding to deliver 66 core services to the community including waste management and family, children, aged and disability services.
- A rates increase of 2.5% in line with the State Government rate cap.
City of Casey Mayor Cr Amanda Stapledon said Council was proud to deliver a strong draft budget with a record infrastructure investment despite the significant challenges Council faces in keeping up with demand as the community continues to grow.
"The Council budget supports the delivery of 66 important services to the Casey community, as well as more than 330 infrastructure projects from local roads and footpaths to family and community centres, playgrounds and sports fields," she said.
"Importantly, it funds the priorities aligned with our 2017-21 Council Plan and supports us to continue to work towards delivering on our vision of creating Australia's most liveable city.
"The CWP focuses on using more than $50 million of our developer contributions for critical infrastructure in our new and growing suburbs to ensure new communities have the infrastructure they need, whilst also renewing facilities in our established suburbs to ensure all residents have access to quality facilities.
"Our operational budget supports us to keep up with the growing demand on our services as more people choose to call Casey home, as well as deliver on the priorities in the Council Plan and Annual Action Plan."
Cr Stapledon added that the draft budget supports Council's strategic objectives of being people driven, a place to prosper and operating a high performing organisation.
"The budget takes action to position Casey to meet the immediate and longer-term challenges of service delivery, the roll-out of infrastructure and continued transformation of our operating environment to meet the demands of such a large and growing city," she said.
"Through this budget, we're continuing to demonstrate our commitment to invest in the future and to meet the growing demands of a community set to reach more than 514,000 residents by 2041."
All residents are encouraged to check out the 2019/20 Draft Budget and have their say by Thursday 6 June at Casey Conversations.
The 2019/20 Draft Budget snapshot:
- $503.5 million total budget to deliver for a community of more than 350,000 people
- $344.8 million operating budget to support Council to provide 66 important services to the Casey community
- $158.7 million Capital Works Program which funds much-needed community infrastructure from roads to sports fields
- 2.5 per cent average general rate increase in line with the State Government rate cap and $21 increase in the standard waste charge. Based on the preliminary property valuations, which are waiting certification by the Victorian Valuer General, the rates will increase by an average of $21.34.
Draft Budget highlights:
$57.2 million to renew, upgrade and construct new sport and recreational facilities
- Continued construction of Regional Community Soccer Precinct at Casey Fields, Cranbourne East ($10m)
- Commence design and construction of new tennis courts (6-8) and a pavilion at Cairns Road Reserve, Hampton Park ($4.2m)
$43 million towards child, youth and family services
- Includes additional funding to keep up with growing demand for kindergarten and Maternal and Child Health consultations, with more than 5,000 babies born in Casey each year
$38.1 million to improve Casey's expansive road and path network
- Commence stage 1 of Hardys Road construction, from Clyde Road to Tuckers Road, and stage 1 Clyde Road/Hardys Road intersection, Clyde North ($9m)
- Commence intersection upgrade works between Grices Road, Glasscocks Road, Clyde Road and Berwick-Cranbourne Road and road duplication works between Berwick-Cranbourne Road and Viewgrand Drive, Cranbourne North ($2m)
$19 million towards aged care and disability support services including Meals on Wheels, volunteer transport and respite care
- Includes support for the establishment of an additional carer's hub within the City of Casey and further promotion of support available to carers
$21.8 million to renew and build new family and community facilities
- Commence construction of new integrated community hub, Cranbourne West ($5.7m)
- Commence development of a new family and community centre integrated with the local primary school, Botanic Ridge ($3.5m)
$23 million towards community facilities and participation
- A five per cent increase in grants to the Casey Cardinia Library Corporation to $6.2 million to support business improvement and meet growing demand
- An increase in Council grants including an additional $200,000 for the annual Community Grants Program, increase in Large Events Funding of $30,000 and an additional $10,000 towards fundraising events
