Rates to rise – City of Ballarat council meeting briefs

AT last weeks ordinary City of Ballarat council meeting , the budget for next financial year, which includes a rate rise, was endorsed by a majority of councillors.

The 2024 to 2025 council budget includes a rate rise of 2.75 per cent which is the maximum increase allowed by the State Government.

The general waste fee is also set to increase by 7.4 per cent or $34 per property which is largely due to mandated changes by the State Government to introduce a four-bin system.

“The 2024/25 budget reflects the community’s priorities and council’s focus on delivering a better Ballarat both now and into the future,” said mayor Cr Des Hudson.

“It is a disciplined budget that articulates how we will deliver major projects that will benefit our community for generations to come whilst also delivering quality core infrastructure and services.

“We are very conscious of the cost-of-living crisis that is continuing to impact on so many in our community.

“The City of Ballarat has also been impacted by escalating costs that have impacted in the decision to increase rates in line with the State Government rate cap.”

Cr Peter Eddy said it is important to acknowledge that not all charges on the rates notice, such as the fire services property levy, go to or are set by the City of Ballarat.

“It is critical that we get the message very clearly across that

not all rate revenue that is paid by the rate payer is coming to us,” he said.

More than $30.5 million will be spent on capital road infrastructure as well as $11.1 million on community infrastructure and $6.5 million on drainage works.

“This back to basics approach reflects what our community called for during the consultation period,” said Cr Hudson.

Council will borrow more than $20 million to fund several projects such as the Sebastopol Community Hub and humidifiers at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.

Crs Samnatha McIntosh and Ben Taylor voted against endorsing the budget, with Cr Taylor citing the rate rise as his reasoning.

“If we can find a way of looking at the organisation being leaner, being better in relation to how we deliver our services, then maybe that is a review… maybe we can look at ways of savings,” he said.

Cr Mark Harris said this opinion was one of populism, with no practical ways to cut costs suggested during the drafting process.

“I’m trying to move to a higher level of discussion,” he said. “Which 36 workers do you want to sack?

“What part of the budget do you want to get rid of?

“I don’t really want to get into that dialogue, it’s just a waste, presenting at this time seems to be a spurious waste of time.”

 

Industrial action ongoing

During question time, a member of the Australian Services Union representing staff of the City of Ballarat, asked how the City planned to use savings listed in the quarter three financial report.

Industrial action in relation to the payment of staff began on May 2 and the union are seeking a five per cent increase for the first year of the agreement and six per cent for the next two years.

While the City of Ballarat had $3.6 million in savings last year due to temporarily vacant jobs, CEO Evan King said this would not be a sustainable way to fund wage increases.

“We have recognised some employee savings in our third quarter financial update and our officers’ recommendation is that those savings be allocated to the Prince of Wales project,” he said.

“It is really important that we are clear that they are one off savings generated as a result of the time between someone leaving the organisation and a new person starting.

“Using one off savings to fund ongoing expenditure is financially irresponsible.

“You can’t fund ongoing costs with the hope that you’re going to make savings out of salaries and wages.”

 

Next step for footpath strategy

The draft footpath construction strategy has been endorsed by councillors to go for public consultation until the end of June.

The strategy details how the City of Ballarat will prioritise and fund new footpaths in the region.

“It is really great to be at this point after having many, many years of recognising gaps in the footpath system but not really clear framework on how to prioritise them,” said Cr Belinda Coates.

“It is an important access, equity and inclusion issue and it’s also incredibly important for active transport which includes walking, cycling and public transport.”

 

Airport master plan endorsed

A majority of councillors endorsed the Ballarat Airport Strategy and Master Plan 2024 to be released for public consultation.

The plan looks at the safeguarding, growth and development of the precinct over the next 20 years.

Cr Hudson said Ballarat Airport has great potential for use by emergency services and commercial flights.

“The benefit of Ballarat and it’s positioning and reach, a response from Ballarat can be far into the top end of Victoria and across the boarder into New South Wales and either parts of South Australia,” he said.

Cr Harris was the only councillor to oppose the endorsement, saying that now is not the right time.

“What it’s doing is not asking the right questions,” he said.

“I think it’s fundamental whether we want a small boutique airstrip that could accommodate emergency services when it comes… or do we want a larger airport?

“When we put out an airport strategy like this without asking those key questions of people… I think it’s not the time to ask for this consultation with our community.”