The Draft Budget for 2023/24 reflects the goals outlined in the 2021-2025 Council Plan and the commitment to provide over 40 services to the community.
The Council has the challenge of balancing the budget with increasing costs higher than the rate cap set by the Victorian Government for the 2023-2024 year. Despite the rate cap being set at 3.5%, which is below the current inflation rate, we will be looking closely at cost savings to ensure financial sustainability.
The Draft Budget includes more than $12 million in grants, along with Council funding, for various local projects. The Capital Works Program is set to exceed $18 million, of this $6.8 million will be allocated to repairing roads and community infrastructure damaged during the previous year's floods.
Key projects outlined in the Capital Works program include road restoration following the 2022 floods, upgrades to the Maryborough Town Hall, redevelopment of the Deledio Reserve Netball Courts, an Indigenous Interpretive Garden at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery, and the completion of Goldfields Reservoir Dam stabilisation works. Additionally, investments in IT strategies, including cybersecurity and website integration, as well as financial system upgrades, are planned.
Other projects include reviewing heritage controls in Maryborough, advancing the activation of the Maryborough Railway Station, constructing new toilets in Rene Fox Gardens Dunolly, undertaking works at Phillips Gardens, completing the Talbot Futures planning project, reviewing Local Laws, and conducting feasibility and design work for a new Youth Hub. Grant-funded projects such as the Engage Youth Program, Freeza Program, L2P Program, Municipal Emergency Resourcing Program, Kerbside Reform Support, and flood recovery coordination will continue or commence in 2023/24.
The community is encouraged to review the Draft Budget and provide feedback as the Council works towards finalising the budget for adoption in June at www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/draftbudget2023
