Budget and Strategic Resource Plan 2017/18

Mitchell Shire Council’s next Council Plan, Budget and Strategic Resource Plan have been adopted following five months of community consultation.

A series of information sessions, surveys and listening posts were held across the Shire to seek ideas about what should be included, to help explain key elements of the plans, and to seek feedback on the drafts.

Submissions from the public were then considered, with a number of changes made before the final plans were adopted at the June council meeting.

Eleven written submissions were received on the draft budget, with six of these heard at a Special Hearings Committee earlier this month.

Following feedback from the community, several changes were made to the draft budget including:

• An increase of $115,000 to the Kings Park Netball Changeroom project.
• Delaying of the $300,000 Kings Park Agricultural Pavilion project due to grant funding not being available.
• A $22,000 increase to fund sealing works at JJ Clancy Reserve.
• A $28,000 increase to fund Stage 1 of the Pyalong Kindergarten works.

The Strategic Resource Plan, which sets out Council’s financial targets over the next four years, was also adopted.

This plan addresses several key challenges for Council including rate capping, population growth, investment in infrastructure and borrowing for long-term benefit.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Rhonda Sanderson said the plans would ensure Council was well-placed in both the short and long term with a strong foundation for the next four years.

“Our Council Plan outlines our community’s wants and needs over the next four years and identifies the ways in which Council can work with the community and other project partners to help achieve them,” Cr Sanderson said.

“The Strategic Resource Plan and Budget show how we are going to resource these commitments and provide critical infrastructure and services and plan for the needs of a growing community.

“Council would like to sincerely thank the members of the community who took the time to share their ideas and make a submission. Your input into these important documents is greatly appreciated and will help make Mitchell a place that we are all proud of for years to come.”

• North Ward – Thursday 11 May at 7pm (Chittick Park, Seymour)
• Central Ward – Tuesday 16 May at 7pm (John Taylor Room, Kilmore)
• South Ward – Thursday 18 May at 7pm (Wallan Youth Room)

Mitchell Shire Council has released its 2017/18 Draft Budget, with the community now invited to have their say.

Roads are one of the community’s top priorities. The 2017/18 Draft Budget includes $4.29 million for road maintenance and improvements, as well as $2.66 million for new programmed roads projects.

The $77.67 million Draft Budget includes a $29.29 million capital works program, up from $25.18 million in 2016/17.

This includes $14.32 million worth of new programmed projects, plus $14.98 million of projects carried over from the previous Budget.

The works carried over are a result of Council’s advocacy work in 2016/17 to secure additional grant funding.

The 2017/18 Capital Works Program includes:

• Road upgrades - $2.66 million ($1.24 million grant funded)
• Bridge upgrades - $1.02 million ($400,000 grant funded)
• Waste Landfill capping and rehabilitation - $2.20 million
• Footpath works - $970,000 ($400,000 renewal works, $570,000 new works)
• Drainage upgrades - $300,000
• Building renewal and upgrades - $625,000
• Parks, Open Space and Streetscape new works - $1.98 million ($1.54 million grant funded)

Under the mandatory State Government rate cap, rates will rise by 2 per cent.

Meanwhile, Council has achieved its goal set in 2016 to reduce net operating costs by $4 million over two years - $2 million in 2016/17 and $2 million in 2017/18.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Councillor Rhonda Sanderson said the 2017/18 Draft Budget delivered some significant capital works projects and retained services which are important to the community, despite a financially constrained environment.

“Council has been disciplined and responsible in delivering this Budget, and our Capital Works Program will provide a host of new and carried forward projects that will have major benefits to our community, both now and into the future,” Cr Sanderson.

“Council understands that roads and footpaths matter to our community and that’s why we have invested heavily in theses area.

“We are spending almost double what we did last Budget on new footpaths and fixing footpath missing links.

“While it is disappointing that grant funding for roads has decreased, Council is investing $1.43 million on new programmed roads - $611,000 more than in 2016/17. That’s a 74.6 per cent increase.”

Cr Sanderson encouraged people to make a submission.

“We have listened to our community to develop this Budget in order to fund the projects and services that they have told us are important to them,” Cr Sanderson said.

“But if there is something we have missed, we would like to hear about it.”

Adoption of Strategic Resource Plan 2018-2021 and 2017-2018 Budget

On Tuesday 18 April 2017, Mitchell Shire Council formally considered its Proposed Budget for 2017/18 and the 2018-2021 Strategic Resource Plan. The following information is provided in respect of this Public Notice:

Council will meet to adopt its Budget and Strategic Resource Plan at 113 High Street Broadford at an Ordinary Meeting of Council at 7pm on 19 June 2017.

Copies of the Proposed Budget 2017/18 and Strategic Resource Plan 2018-2021 are available for inspection until 23 May 2017 at Council’s Library and Customer Service Centres:

• Seymour - 125 Anzac Avenue;
• Broadford - 113 High Street;
• Wallan - 9/81-99 High Street;
• Kilmore - 12 Sydney Street; or
• Council’s engagaement portal www.engagingmitchellshire.com

Submissions

Written submissions about the Proposed Budget and Strategic Resource Plan will be considered in accordance with section 223 of the Local Government Act 1989 (“the Act”). Submissions must be received at Mitchell Shire Council, 113 High Street Broadford VIC 3658 by 5pm Tuesday 23 May 2017.All written submissions lodged with the Council will become public documents available for inspection by the public in accordance with the Act. Submissions can be made via the engagement portal www.engagingmitchellshire.com or mailed to Mitchell Shire Council, 113 High Street Broadford VIC 3658.

Submissions will be considered at a Hearings Committee meeting of Council to be held on Monday 5 June 2017 at 7pm in the Council Chamber, Mitchell Shire Council, 113 High Street Broadford, VIC 3658.

Information Sessions

Information sessions to explain the Proposed Budget 2016/17 will be held. Refer to Council’s engagaement portal www.engagingmitchellshire.com for further details or contact Laurie Ellis, Director Corporate Services at mitchell@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au or (03) 5734 6200.