Shire celebrates financial performance

THE Surf Coast Shire council celebrated its investment over the past financial year in initiatives and projects that support a healthy and connected community, as it last month adopted its 2023-2024 annual report.

The report outlines the council’s performance against its four-year council plan and annual budget, with the shire this year generating an accumulated unallocated cash surplus of $1.9 million.

At the council’s October meeting, most councillors took the opportunity to highlight the projects they were most proud to have supported, chief among them the redevelopment of the Winchelsea Pool, which is on track to reopen during the upcoming summer, and the Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre, on which preliminary works have begun.

Cr Mike Bodsworth said the annual report highlighted a strong performing council, a strong performing organisation, high quality standards and a highly engaged, active and effective community.

“The report and audits show a sound financial position against a backdrop of strict revenue constraints, broadening scope of activities and sustained inflation that’s challenging the whole local government sector,” he said.

Cr Paul Barker, however, criticised the council’s decreasing expenditure on roads, which he said accounted for 37 per cent of expenditure over the 2023-24 financial year, down from 53 per cent in the 2022-23 financial year.

“If you’re driving around and have a look at our roads, and if you’ve got any questions, all you need to do is look back on these reports to see why that is,” he said.

Cr Libby Stapleton said financial sustainability is at the heart of council being able to effectively support the aspirations of the Surf Coast community and noted the council’s small but meaningful investment in initiatives to further First Nations reconciliation.

“While there is still much to learn by the council and the community in this space, it is evident that we can work towards reconciliation in a meaningful way with only a minimal financial allocation from council,” she said.

Surf Coast Shire chief executive Robyn Seymour highlighted some of the community-led projects included in the annual report, including irrigation upgrades at Torquay’s Quay Reserve Community Orchard and the Winchelsea railway reserve’s 42-metre mural, which was completed earlier this year.

“These projects are a shining example of how a small contribution from council can have a big impact, and how there is nothing quite like locals’ knowledge and desire to make something happen,” she said.

To view the shire’s annual report, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au/annualreport