Council has adopted the 2022/2023 Budget which builds on a sustainable, healthy and connected environment for a growing community.
The Budget has been developed in line with the City of Greater Bendigo's 10-year Financial Plan which supports the community vision and Council Plan (Mir wimbul) 2021-2025 and other key strategies, including the Climate Change and Environment Strategy and Healthy Greater Bendigo 2021-2025.
As part of the early stages of the Budget planning process, residents were invited to make submissions on community priorities in early November 2021. Council received 38 submissions from the community and 21 of these requested a time to speak in front of Council about their submissions.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the early engagement helped to inform Councillors during the Budget development and ensured that community priorities were captured in the Budget where possible.
"All submissions were carefully reviewed and recurring themes from the feedback included the need for healthy liveable spaces and places, such as an additional investment in walking trails, shared pathways, cycling infrastructure and improvements to parks and open space," Cr Metcalf said.
"I would like to thank all of those in the community who took the time to contribute to the Budget development as it proved invaluable during the process.
"The Budget will invest $70M in key construction projects to develop and maintain various public spaces and critical infrastructure.
"Council continues to facilitate growth and the Budget builds on a multi-year approach to fund and deliver important projects for the community.
"It is also important to note that the announcement of Bendigo as a host city for the 2026 Commonwealth Games will have an impact on future Budgets.
"At this stage we are unsure of the exact size of the investment that will be needed but it will certainly be a key part of future Budgets."
Project highlights in the new Budget include:
- $9.9M secured funding for the Bendigo Airport terminal expansion and business park
- $1.8M funding for Stage 2 at Ewing Park for a learn-to-ride park and trail adjacent to the newly constructed skate park
- $1.5M to renew Lake Weeroona play space to create junior and older play zones for children, more seating and shade
- $1.5M funding for the next stage of the Mercy Junortoun Joint Use Sports Precinct development at Catherine McAuley College
- A new $1.5M footpath program to increase accessibility and active lifestyle
- $250,000 for a car park and toilet at Longlea to support the O'Keefe Rail Trail
- $15.1M improvements on the sealed and unsealed local road network
- $6.1M investment in recreation, aquatic and open space facilities
"There's also an investment in resourcing a coordinated approach to environmental policies, strategies and programs is included in the Budget. All City-run facilities will see energy and water tracking systems installed, new measures will be implemented to improve energy efficiency at Gurri Wanyarra Wellbeing Centre, and there is a $420,000 investment for more energy efficient street lighting.
"The $222M Budget continues to support the operations of the organisation including a $152M operating Budget to fund important services for the community, including waste collection, maintenance of parks, gardens and recreation facilities, aged care, childcare, maternal and child health, library services, planning, environmental health, staging and supporting tourism and events and much more.
"The Budget is based on a 1.75 per cent rate increase, in line with the Victorian Government's Fair Go Rates System. Around 62 per cent of Budget funding comes from rates.
"As in previous years, Council has not applied for a variation to the rate cap and will absorb increasing costs and lower forecast revenue within current allocations, which limits revenue available to fund new projects and initiatives."
To view the adopted 2022/2023 Budget, please visit: https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/About/Budget
You can also see a map of proposed capital works projects for 2022/2023 here.
