Council is inviting residents to have their say on the $53 million 2021-2022 Draft Budget.
This is the first budget of the current Council, which was elected last October.
It was developed to ensure the financial position remains sustainable while supporting the community through a range of initiatives and projects.
The record $21 million capital works program includes $6.9 million for local roads,and $5.3 million for the Port Campbell Town Centre upgrade, to be matched with State and Federal Government funding.
Footpaths will receive $125,000, $110,000 will go to new playgrounds and skate parks and there will be $105,000 for apprentices/trainees.
The Budget will deliver a $6.4 million operating surplus and will see Council remain debt free for a fourth year.
The proposed Budget includes a rate increase of 1.5%. This is in line with the State Government's rate capping framework which has capped rate increases in Victorian councils.
The waste management charge will decrease by 0.78%, reflecting an offset of savings achieved in waste collection from the previous year.
Mayor Ruth Gstrein said Council remained committed to maintaining local roads and advocating to the State and Federal Governments for further improvements to the arterial road network.
"This draft Budget allocates $6.9 million to road rehabilitation, roads to recovery projects, resheeting and resealing," she said.
"Some of the major road projects include widening and rehabilitation of Linton Road ($675,000), Carpendeit-Bungador Road ($365,000) and Depot Road at Camperdown ($340,000) and rehabilitation of East Hill Road ($375,000), Williams Road ($250,000), Blind Creek Road ($214,000), Kilnoorat Road ($213,000), and Stewarts Road ($130,000).
"In another major improvement, there will be upgrades and sealing on Parkers Access Road and Moonlight Head Road ($250,000)."
Grants programs continue to be supported with $80,000 each for Facility Grants and Events & Festivals Grants, $60,000 for Business Incentive Grants, $50,000 for Community Grants, Retail Area Façade Improvement Grants and Environment Support Grants, $30,000 for Community Planning township allocations and $17,500 for Quick Response Grants.
Cr Gstrein said the Budget had a range of town planning initiatives aimed at supporting residential and business growth.
"These will leverage the opportunities that have arisen over the past 12 months, particularly the exodus of people from the city and suburbs to rural and regional areas," she said.
"The initiatives will create more residential allotments to meet growing demand."
Council will continue to provide a range of services to its community, such as aged and disability, and early years including Family Day Care, immunisation, kindergartens—including an expanded three-year-old kinder program, Maternal and Child Health, Mobile Child Care, libraries and pools.
Cr Gstrein encouraged residents to get a copy of the draft budget and have their say. It can be downloaded here
