Allocate Council’s capital works budget

Community will have the chance to influence Mitchell Shire Council’s 2021/22 budget preparations, with the online Budget Simulator being activated to gain an insight into our communities’ priorities.

The simulator tool, returning for the second year, provides a platform for the community to allocate funds to their areas of choice. This provides the Council with a list of priority areas that will assist in planning for recovery and long-term infrastructure needs of the shire.

The tool gives our community a unique view of balancing a $20 million capital works budget. From roads to footpaths, open spaces to buildings – and we want to check in with you.

The themes are:

• Community Buildings and Facilities
• Sports, Recreation and Aquatic Facilities
• Footpaths, Walking and Cycling
• Sustainable Township and Natural Environment
• Roads and Road Safety
• Parklands, Playgrounds and Open Spaces

A section of the survey also provides the community an opportunity to talk about recovery support.

Now more than ever Council needs to open a conversation about what types of projects, aspirations, and needs are important to inform the development of our capital works program in 2021/2022.

The draft 2021/22 Budget is expected to be released for public comment in March 2021 before adoption in June 2021.

Comments from Mayor Councillor David Lowe

“Forward planning is critical and with the challenges of 2020 and the road to COVID-19 recovery on everyone’s mind, it is an opportunity to have community play a role in shaping our works program.

Council is once again opening the interactive budget simulator tool in 2020 to gain an understanding of community priorities.

Last year attracted more than 200 responses and this year we can gauge if those priorities have changed considering the impacts of COVID-19 in our shire and across the state.

“The tool gives our community a chance to balance their budget while also helping us understand what infrastructure priorities are most important right now. From buildings to spots amenities, parklands to playgrounds – we want to check in with you.”