New local gov budget

MOORABOOL Shire councillors have voted to increase rates and decrease household waste charges under a new budget adopted last week.

Under the plan, local rates will rise by 2.75 per cent, in line with rate caps set by the Victorian Government.

“Despite the cap on rates, Council has been able to minimise the rate burden on residents with stringent budget and fiscal controls,” an officer’s report read.

Under the new fiscal plan, standard waste management charges were reduced from $120 per household to $118, domestic waste collection will drop to $256 each year and kerbside green waste will be reduced from $101 to $96 annually.

Public budget submissions included calls for a shire-wide roads audit and upgrades to local sporting facilities.

In response to the audit, a council statement said the municipality was “confident it has a rigorous contract management regime, including surveillance of the work being carried out.”

Key projects in the budget included $2.4 million for the reconstruction of Yendon No. 2 Road, $1.5 million to replace the Woolpack Road bridge at Bacchus Marsh and $2.6 million for shirewide road resealing.

Mayor Cr Ally Munari said the council would continue to seek public input on decision-making.

“Moorabool Shire has seen significant growth in recent years, and our capital program has been developed to meet community infrastructure needs,” she said.

Councillors also voted to accept an update on the shire’s four-year plan, which was put out for public comment during May

When asked if the shire’s service provision could be impacted by recent inflation forecasts, Moorabool chief executive Derek Madden said economic conditions were more likely to impact plans for the 2025/26 financial year.

“It’s probably something that will significantly impact the next [council] plan,” he said.

The next four-year plan will be adopted after local government elections in October.