Shire adopts 2022/23 Budget

THE Surf Coast Shire council has taken some suggestions on board from the community in the spending in its final 2022/23 Budget, which the council adopted last month.

There were 24 community submissions sent in during the exhibition period.

“It’s always great to hear from passionate locals and learn about their priorities,” shire mayor Libby Stapleton said.

“The draft budget was developed with attention to the long-term financial challenge of balancing the budget, and prioritising funding of projects and services.

“This year we had a greater emphasis on allocating resources to projects that have been fully scoped and are ready to deliver.”

The Surf Coast Netball Association was successful in its bid to waive $5,000 of court hire fees for 2022-23 and to receive administration support in its first season of operation. This will assist the association to transition from being council-run to community-run.

“With almost half of the community submissions relating to roads, we’re pleased that the organisation’s submission resulted in the $1.55m increase for roads renewal and upgrades,” Cr Stapleton said.

“This allocation will support some of the roadworks-focused community submissions.”

“We thank everyone who took the time to make a submission and hope that we can play a role in bringing some of the other ideas to life through our community project development program or the new-look grants program, which has a further $35,000 of funding available in 2022-23.”

Cr Stapleton said key projects and initiatives in the budget would pave the way for a connected community, and work towards cementing the Surf Coast as an environmental leader.

Of the $34.6 million capital works program, $13.6 million of which will be spent on new projects including Aboriginal language on signs to support First Nations Reconciliation, a regional bike route on the Great Ocean Road between Jan Juc and Bellbrae, and Karaaf Wetlands stormwater management.

It also includes $14.5 million for renewing existing assets – headlined by the $2.1 million Winchelsea Pool renewal – and $14.3 million for roads upgrades, maintenance and renewal.

The latter includes Torquay North traffic improvements and a new two-lane bridge as part of Gnarwarre’s Pollocksford Road Bridge, which received a $2.8 million federal government grant in May, freeing up $1.55 million in the Budget to help fund other roads renewal and upgrade projects.

“We were rapt to receive the federal government grant, particularly as it has enabled the council to further reduce our asset renewal backlog, which remains a long-term financial challenge,” Cr Stapleton said.

Other significant infrastructure projects are Deans Marsh Community Hall redevelopment, Winchelsea’s Eastern Reserve netball courts resurfacing, and an upgrade of The MAC in Torquay.

The 2022-23 Budget includes a rate increase of 1.75 per cent, in line with the rate cap set by the Victorian government, which the shire says “is essential for Council’s future viability, and ability to support the community and meet its aspirations”.

The urban garbage collection fee is budgeted to increase by 5 per cent (to $455) and the rural garbage collection by 8 per cent (to $388), as part of a plan to align the two garbage collection charges over the next four years.