Council’s draft budget highlights
Mitchell Shire Councilwill increase its sealed roads program, continue to improve road and footpath linkages andkeep the doors open to Outdoor Pools for free, under its proposed 2020/21 Budget.
The budget aims to ensure Council can manage both the growing pains of being the fastest growing municipality in Victoria and opportunities that come with rapid growth.
The community greatly assisted in setting the Draft Budget 2020/21 through the Your Budget Mix initiative last year with more than 200 responses received online and through community engagement.
Council is proposing a capital works program of $24.28 million, plus $7.83M in carry forward works, which provides a total program of $32.11M.
This budget continues to allow Mitchell Shire to:
operate efficiently and effectively
provide services, facilities, and infrastructure to meet the current and future needs of our rural, urban, and new communities
intensively plan and deliver for the future
engage with our community to help define core services and develop service levels which will define our asset needs
drive change in partnership with the community by nurturing an engaged, motivated and efficient workforce
successfully advocate to other levels of government on the needs of the community
collaborate with other municipalities to secure better contracts
work in partnership with all sectors, including business, not for profit, and government, to maximise and support shared resource benefits and investment in the municipality.
Highlights of the capital works program for 2020/21 funded by Council in partnership with State and Commonwealth grants include:
Roads and Bridges (Renewal and Upgrade) – $5.28 million ($1.18 million grant funded)
Park, Open Space and Streetscapes - $4.81 million ($4.21 million grant funded)
Recreation, Leisure and Community Facilities - $2.92 million ($1.07 million grant funded)
Buildings - $2.11 million ($1.40 million grant funded)
Strategic Land Acquisition - $2.10 million
Waste Management - $1 million
Information Technology - $981,000
Footpath and Cycleways - $895,000
Library Book Renewals - $180,000
The sealed roads budget will increase to $4.5 million, up from $3.8 million in the Budget 2019/20, to continue works across the entire municipality.
The capital works program will help Council maintain or upgrade roads, buildings, footpaths, cycleways and missing footpath links across the shire.
The Draft Budget 2020/21 also considers the rapidly growing future of Mitchell Shire. About $4.88 million has been set aside for new projects to be delivered during 2020-2021.
Free entry to outdoor pools will continue over the next summer season. The 2019-2020 season saw bumper crowds at outdoor pools – despite some cooler days.
Council is set to continue to focus on township beautification, improving garden beds and reviewing the Mitchell Open Space Strategy.
Council will consider any measures for Coronavirus response or potential impacts on operations.This will be considered before the budget is adopted and can be reviewed at a later date in accordance with state legislation around budget changes.
The Draft Budget is open for public comment until Wednesday 22 April.
For more information or to provide input, please visit www.engagingmitchellshire.com.
Quotes attributable to Mitchell Shire Mayor Councillor David Lowe
"We heard from our community during the Your Budget Mix consultation period about what they would like to see in the Budget 2020/21. This was an important tool for us as it gave us an indication on what projects the community would like prioritised,” he said.
“We are more financially stable now and that has been a focus of this Council. This budget is another step in right direction.
“I urge our community to read over these documents for themselves and understand what we are trying to achieve in 2020/21. This is the last budget for this Council, and I am incredibly proud of the improvements we have made in this space.”
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Consultation has concluded
