GOLDEN Plains Shire finance director Philippa O’Sullivan addressed the organisation\u2019s most recent quarterly finance report at first council meeting of the new term on Tuesday, 24 November.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Ms O’Sullivan\u2019s reported covered the three months until Wednesday, 30 September.<\/p>\n
At that time, the Shire\u2019s total operating expenditure had been $9.5 million, and total revenue was $31.3 million, meaning a $21.8 million \u201cyear-to-date surplus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a $3.5 million favourable result compared to the original budget, and $2.5 million favourable against the revised budget,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Because of vacant roles, Shire staff costs were at $602,000 less than predicted in the revised budget.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Capital expenditure was reported at $4.4 million, $1.8 million more than the revised budget.<\/p>\n
Cr Owen Sharkey called the report \u201csurprising,\u201d but \u201chugely encouraging.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good to see that things are moving forward…and fantastic to see that some areas haven\u2019t blown out, as I would have thought they would have, going into a pandemic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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Projects beginning and concluding<\/strong><\/p>\n Various Shire-funded projects are expected to be completed at their projected completion dates.<\/p>\n The Teesdale-Turtle Bend pedestrian footbridge, the Bannockburn Bowls upgrade, The Bannockburn Youth Hub, and Lethbridge lighting and irrigation installation jobs are tracking well.<\/p>\n Another round of contractors have recently been awarded Shire project work set to begin soon.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo contracts are under the CEO delegation, which related to the upgrade of disaster recovery sites and our new telephony system,\u201d Ms O’Sullivan said.<\/p>\n \u201cTen 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.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Finding a home for Federal funds<\/strong><\/p>\n Council has recommended to the Federal Government\u2019s Department of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development that $1,512,680 of Local Roads and Community Infrastructure funding should go towards seven municipal projects.<\/p>\n They have endorsed $200,000 for bridge guardrails, $250,000 for a better Enfield playground, $250,000 for an improved intersection at Buninyong \u2013 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\u2019s Paddys Gully Road bridge.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve also asked that $99,900 go to the upgrades happening at Bannockburn Skate Park, and $145,000 be allocated to the Lethbridge cricket nets.<\/p>\n Councilors agreed a $331,000 injection into the Gully Road Bridge works from the Shire would be considered in 2021-22 budget planning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Shire selling \u2018pot of gold\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Land owned by the Golden Plains Shire on Lomandra Drive, Teesdale will be sold and subdivided into 37 lots.<\/p>\n Cr Les Rowe said he can\u2019t wait to see the outcome of the development, which is in a booming location of the municipality.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be great to drive over there and go through it all when the 37 lots are completed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Cr Sharkey called the land a \u201cpotential pot of gold\u201d he\u2019s been aware of since he was first elected.<\/p>\n \u201cWe as residents and councilors should thank our forefathers here for what they\u2019ve done, allowing us to have this space,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an area in which we need to look to our grandchildren as well, with the financial gain that council can get from this.<\/p>\n \u201cI firmly believe part of that needs to be looked at and invested for our grandchildren. It\u2019s about the next councils into the future…having that cash injection into the budget.<\/p>\n Cr Gavin Gamble said he would like to see more walkways to emphasise \u201ccommunity connections.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n