Council cashflow communicated – Golden Plains Shire council meeting briefs

GOLDEN Plains Shire finance director Philippa O’Sullivan addressed the organisation’s most recent quarterly finance report at first council meeting of the new term on Tuesday, 24 November.

The meeting was held in-person at the Bannockburn Civic Centre but closed to the public due to COVID restrictions. It was however, streamed online.

Ms O’Sullivan’s reported covered the three months until Wednesday, 30 September.

At that time, the Shire’s total operating expenditure had been $9.5 million, and total revenue was $31.3 million, meaning a $21.8 million “year-to-date surplus.”

“This is a $3.5 million favourable result compared to the original budget, and $2.5 million favourable against the revised budget,” she said.

“We’ve had $367,000 in extra rates revenue due to a greater amount of customer growth than budgeted. $425,000 of operating grants have been carried forward from the 19-20 year, which was due to the timing of delivering the obligations, being after the 30th of June 2020.

“We’ve had $259,000 of hire of open space and developer contributions income, due to greater development activity than anticipated. Contractor material costs are $486,000 lower than the revised budget due to delay…of the receival of collection and garbage disposal costs invoices, and lower maintenance costs due to closed facilities.”

Because of vacant roles, Shire staff costs were at $602,000 less than predicted in the revised budget.

One hundred and sixty-seven per cent of the revised budget has been delivered, with 2019 projects rolling into the current year; the Civic Centre, Bakers Lane development, Bannockburn Bowls and Turtle Bend upgrades.

Capital expenditure was reported at $4.4 million, $1.8 million more than the revised budget.

Cr Owen Sharkey called the report “surprising,” but “hugely encouraging.”

“It’s good to see that things are moving forward…and fantastic to see that some areas haven’t blown out, as I would have thought they would have, going into a pandemic,” he said.

 

Projects beginning and concluding

Various Shire-funded projects are expected to be completed at their projected completion dates.

The Teesdale-Turtle Bend pedestrian footbridge, the Bannockburn Bowls upgrade, The Bannockburn Youth Hub, and Lethbridge lighting and irrigation installation jobs are tracking well.

Another round of contractors have recently been awarded Shire project work set to begin soon.

“Two contracts are under the CEO delegation, which related to the upgrade of disaster recovery sites and our new telephony system,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

“Ten tenders have been advertised and four have been awarded during this quarter, which include the Inverleigh Sporting Complex clubroom upgrade, Bakers Lane detail design and the Reserve Road bridge replacement.”

 

Finding a home for Federal funds

Council has recommended to the Federal Government’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development that $1,512,680 of Local Roads and Community Infrastructure funding should go towards seven municipal projects.

They have endorsed $200,000 for bridge guardrails, $250,000 for a better Enfield playground, $250,000 for an improved intersection at Buninyong – Mt Mercer Road and Hardies Hill Road, $250,000 for an improved intersection at Derwent Jacks Road, Snow Gum Road, Reef Road, and Chromes Road, and $318,680 for the replacement of Rokewood Junction’s Paddys Gully Road bridge.

They’ve also asked that $99,900 go to the upgrades happening at Bannockburn Skate Park, and $145,000 be allocated to the Lethbridge cricket nets.

Councilors agreed a $331,000 injection into the Gully Road Bridge works from the Shire would be considered in 2021-22 budget planning.

 

Shire selling ‘pot of gold’

Land owned by the Golden Plains Shire on Lomandra Drive, Teesdale will be sold and subdivided into 37 lots.

Cr Les Rowe said he can’t wait to see the outcome of the development, which is in a booming location of the municipality.

“It will be great to drive over there and go through it all when the 37 lots are completed,” he said.

Cr Sharkey called the land a “potential pot of gold” he’s been aware of since he was first elected.

“We as residents and councilors should thank our forefathers here for what they’ve done, allowing us to have this space,” he said.

“It’s an area in which we need to look to our grandchildren as well, with the financial gain that council can get from this.

“I firmly believe part of that needs to be looked at and invested for our grandchildren. It’s about the next councils into the future…having that cash injection into the budget.

Cr Gavin Gamble said he would like to see more walkways to emphasise “community connections.”

 

Bitu-Mill to work the bitumen

Contractor, Bitu-Mill will widen Meredith-Shelford Road from Henderson’s Road to Lower Plains Road, and seal the shoulder and of Shelford-Mt Mercer Road from Grahams Road to Rices Road, also installing guard fencing.

It’s planned that 2.2 kilometres of the Meredith-Shelford Road will be sealed with 30 centimetres of compacted crushed rock and a seven-millimetre sized primer seal. This will cost $874,534.82.

About 3.5 kilometres of Shelford-Mt Mercer Road will be improved, costing $1,007,037.35.