Murrindindi Shire Council adopted its Annual Budget for 2023/24 at its Scheduled Meeting on 26 May 2023, with a focus on maintenance and renewal of Council infrastructure, including sealed and unsealed roads, footpaths and bridges.
Council's Mayor John Walsh said the Budget is fair, financially responsible, and balances Council's commitment to maintaining services for the community despite cost pressures due to high inflation.
The 2023/24 Budget outlines the resource requirements and priority projects in line with the key strategic objectives that have been set in the Council Plan 2021-2025. It outlines several important initiatives and projects, including, but not limited to:
- $3.7 million towards roads, footpaths and cycleways including
- $2.9 million to fund the resheeting and resealing programs
- $200,000 for flood recovery works
- $200,000 on drainage in Buxton, Yea and Alexandra
- $30,000 to support community's recreation enjoyment and safety through oval maintenance
- $30,000 to support implementation of Council's Reconciliation Action Plan
- $10,000 to support public health and wellbeing initiatives, including community mental health first aid training, active footpaths project, vaping awareness and women in sport initiative
- $17,000 in funding extra resources to support meeting Council's statutory obligations under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005
- $202,000 to improve Council's responsiveness to Community requests through a combined Rapid Road and Tree Maintenance Response Team
- $150,000 increase in allocation of funds for road material to improve unsealed road maintenance and address service standards
- $120,000 towards the Street Tree Program for tree planting across our towns
- $10,800 to implement SpendMapp, an online economic analysis tool to support the implementation and evaluation of economic development strategies
- $20,000 to conduct a feasibility assessment for developing vacant Council owned land to support housing affordability and availability.
- $35,000 to progress Council's carbon offsetting project at Flat Lead Road, Yea
- $20,000 to strengthen Council's cyber security.
"The Budget also details a 3.5% average increase in property rates and charges, in line with the Victorian Government's Fair Go Rates System and rates cap" Mayor Walsh said.
"Submissions were sought from the community and the draft Budget was made available on Council's website and at our Library and Customer Service Centres. Council received a total of eight submissions from the community. These submissions have been considered and responses will be provided to each person and group."
"We've got major challenges ahead of us, including overcoming the legacy of the October Floods, supporting our community through difficult times, addressing issues with housing, and so much more. We've given ourselves a major challenge in the level of work we have outlined in the Annual Budget 2023/24. Despite the challenges ahead, Council is determined to maintain its services, while working within the rate cap to deliver important projects and initiatives to enhance our Shire's way of life. But this has meant that choices have had to be made because not everything within the Council Plan 2021-25 can be achieved."
"I'd like to thank everyone who made submissions to Council about the draft Budget earlier this year. Thank you to Council officers for all the work that's gone in to preparing the Budget", Mayor Walsh added.
To read the Annual Budget 2023/24, please click here(PDF, 2MB).
