Corangamite Shire Councillors adopted two significant documents at their June meeting.
Mayor Ruth Gstrein said the 2021-2022 Budget and the Council Plan 2021-2025 made up a powerful strategy.
"These two documents show the depth of the strategy that will move the Shire ahead in the short and medium term," Cr Gstrein said.
"The Council Plan sets out deliberate and practical steps over the next four years. The Budget is the very specific work plan that really drills down to where dollars are spent and where staff and resources are deployed."
Cr Gstrein said residents would start to see the strategy coming to fruition in coming months as the next financial year's works program rolls out.
"People will definitely see our works team out on the roads. The 2021-2022 Budget has a record $21 million capital works program including $6.9 million for road rehabilitation, roads to recovery projects, resheeting and resealing.
"It also sets aside $5.3 million for the Port Campbell Town Centre upgrade which, subject to funding from the State and Federal governments will be the biggest project Council has ever undertaken.
"There are also a number of planning initiatives to create more residential allotments to meet growing demand as people from the city and suburbs look to move to rural and regional areas.
"This will strengthen the local economy as we work towards a secure and prosperous future."
The Budget also allocates funding for essential community services 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.
It will deliver a $6.4 million operating surplus and will see Council remain debt-free for the fourth year in a row.
The proposed Budget includes a rate increase of 1.5%, in line with the State Government's rate capping framework.
The waste management charge will decrease by 0.78%, reflecting an offset of savings achieved in waste collection from the previous year.
Cr Gstrein said all of the documents would be available on the Council's website or by calling customer service on 5593 7100.
"I encourage residents to read the documents and find out about the huge range of services council delivers."
