Kingston Budget continues to deliver high-quality services and facilities
Kingston Council has released its Draft Budget for 2019/20, which provides details on the continued delivery of high quality services, maintaining the City's infrastructure and delivering exciting new projects that will help to strengthen our community.
Mayor Georgina Oxley said the proposed budget commits $221 million towards services for the City's 163,400 residents, which range from (but are not limited to) weekly waste collection, operating the City's libraries, manning school crossings across Kingston, providing more than 15,000 immunisations, more than 100,000 community care hours; and the maintenance of 367 parks, 60 sports grounds and 114 playgrounds.
There has also been $81.6 million allocated to capital works. This program will promote an active and healthy community through major investments in accessible open spaces and sporting facilities to strengthen local clubs and encourage greater participation. These development projects include:
- Soppett Pavilion at Mentone Reserve ($5.2 million)
- Roy Dore Pavilion ($4.4 million)
- Multiuse sports field facilities at Kerr Crescent ($3.5 million)
- Dales Park Pavilion ($2.5 million)
- Park development at the Elder Street Landfill ($1.1 million)
Through its Capital Works program, Council will make a significant investment towards future-proofing the City's arts, culture and retail precincts, with funding allocated to restore Masonic Hall, revitalise the Dingley Village Neighbourhood House precinct, improve our much-loved libraries, enhance the Parkdale local shopping centre and create a Kingston City Hall Masterplan.
It also commits more than $10 million to ensure that we continue to maintain our assets and infrastructure to a high standard, with money allocated towards the improvement and of roads, drainage and footpath renewal works.
The Draft Budget 2019–20 includes significant investments in environmental upgrades," said Cr Oxley. "Although the cost of recycling continues to rise, Council will only pass on a waste increase of approximately $6 household and have allocated $1.5 million to introduce food organic waste disposal (FOGO) in 2019–20; along with the funding needed plant an additional thousand trees across the City."
Cr Oxley said Kingston Council, due to its strong history of sound financial management, is well-prepared to continue meeting the Victorian Government's rate capping legislation that limits average rate rises to 2.5 per cent; whilst offering additional services and improvements, including waiving fees for students with overdue library books, to encourage more reading and visitation.
There are many other highlights featured in the City of Kingston Draft Budget 2019-2020, which include:
Enhancing our foreshore by rebuilding the Edithvale, Aspendale and Mentone Life Saving clubs and the Mentone Precinct Open Space Project.
Supporting our community by increasing the pensioner rate rebate to $110 and waiving overdue library fees for students.
Supporting the continued rehabilitation of Kingston's Green Wedge through a $1.1 million investment to remediate and create a park at the former Elder Street landfill site, $50,000 to create a new bridge to Elder Park and $700,000 towards to invest in the Sandbelt Chain of Parks Project.
Work to complete the missing section of the Bay Trail project to provide a shared walking/bike path from Mentone to Mordialloc, with Council's contribution of $4.4 million in this year's budget.
Continuing the City's commitment to advocate and introduce new measures to support the disadvantaged, including a $265,000 investment in the Family Violence Action Plan and $50,000 towards gambling advocacy.
A commitment of $125,000 to introduce of a new festival in Kingston's North Ward.
Being well-governed and planning for the future through a $3.7 million Garden Boulevard Consolidated Depot Project and $1.3 million on information and communication technology projects.
Have your say on the draft budget
The Draft Budget can also be viewed at Council's Customer Service Centres, at your local library and online at kingston.vic.gov.au
Written submissions on the Draft Budget are invited by 5pm, Tuesday 6 June via:
online by visiting yourkingstonyoursay.com.au
