Positive news in annual report but mayor warns of trouble ahead

MOORABOOL Shire councillors adopted the municipality’s 2024-25 annual report last night.

The report outlines the Shire’s activities, accomplishments and results in several areas including governance, assets and infrastructure, community development, performance and financial considerations.

Last night’s meeting was an unscheduled one, with the specific purpose of adopting the report.

In a joint introductory statement in the report, mayor Cr Paul Tatchell and CEO Derek Madden highlight the Ballan Library and Community Hub as a particular achievement for the year in review.

“…from a hole in the ground at the start of the financial year to nearly complete and ready for the community to access by the end of the financial year – an amazing achievement,” they said.

“In addition, we have opened a new dog park at Mason’s Lane in Bacchus Marsh, completed work on Aqualink walking and cycling trail, opened new facilities at Bacchus Marsh Racecourse and Recreation Reserve, new netball courts at Gordon and Wallace and a new community hall at Navigators.

“With finances very tight at local government level across the board, it remains imperative we secure funding from other levels of government and we’re pleased with how successful our grant applications were to be able to deliver these projects for our communities.”

Speaking before the meeting, Cr Tatchell said the 2024-25 year had generally been a successful one for the Shire, but conceded that the continuing and worsening financial challenge facing local councils concerned him greatly.

He said governments, particularly the State Government, were imposing more taxes and charges on people and continually shifting costs to councils, making the financial situation difficult for everyone.

“And at some point it has an effect on our cashflow,” he said. “The impact of poor economic management from the State has certainly had a flow-on effect and it’s represented in people just paying tax.

“We’re forever aware of that and it’s going to be a continual problem.

“But our projects are coming in on budget, we’re getting a lot of work done, and generally we’re in pretty good nick.”

But Cr Tatchell forecast a grim outlook for Victorian councils if something does not change.

“What’s it going to be like in five years time if we continue to tax at the rates that we’re taxing? Something will certainly have to give,” he said.

“I think we’ll see less and less capital works; I think our roads will continue to deteriorate, and I think that people will continue to be taxed at higher rates.”

But Cr Tatchell said while his own council had benefited from good financial governance and management, it could not afford to become complacent.

“We’re in the people business too, we’re not just in the build business,” he said, “and we need to make sure that people can live affordable lives in a place…that they want.

“I hope in 12 months time or two years time we can have the same conversation and say that everything’s fixed.”

The annual report is available online or in hard copy on request.