Campaspe council budget open for comment

Council has also recently announced financial measures for ratepayers and businesses which will have impacts across the budget.

“The Local Government Act requires us to adopt a budget by June 30 each year and while this has recently been extended to August 31, we still need to progress our budget and put it out for community comment for 28 days,” Cr Weston said.

“Given this, we are putting our proposed budget out to the community, however recognise that we will need to revise the budget once the pandemic has ended.

“Any revised budget will go out to the community, where again community comment will be sought.”

The $82 million proposed budget supports a $24.4 million capital works program, with an adjusted operating surplus of $468,000.

The budget has been developed in line with the Victorian Government’s Fair Go Rates System, with rate revenue capped at two per cent.

“Rate income is an important revenue stream at 47 per cent and allows council to maintain services,” Cr Weston said.

“Waste charges are also important, at eight per cent of our revenue, funding the collection of kerbside bins, paying the Victorian Government’s landfill levy, operation of transfer stations, monitoring of former landfills and collection of street litter bins.”

Other revenue streams include grant programs (22 per cent), user fees (19 per cent), interest (one per cent) and statutory fees and fines (three per cent).

Capital Works Program

Improvements have been made to the way capital projects are budgeted and delivered for community benefit, now reflected in this budget.

“Our projects are now broken up across multiple years, with the design element funded in year one, to then inform delivery costs across the future year or years,” Cr Weston said.

“Larger projects are generally funded across multiple years. This gives us more flexibility as well as the ability to deliver small and large projects across any given year.”

The program also includes two projects recently approved for funding under the new Victorian Government Community Infrastructure Loan Scheme, a low interest loan program, Gunbower Lions Park and Echuca East Community Precinct.

This budget supports a Capital Works Program detailing 56 projects, including the following examples:

Bridges - $1.1 million

$216,000 Watsons Bridge, Gunbower rehabilitation of bridge (year two of a two-year $613,000 project);

$102,000 Swamp Bridge, Mitiamo, replacement of bridge (year two of a two-year $562,000 project);

$36,500 Taylors Creek Bridge, Gunbower, design project only for potential rehabilitation;

$147,500 Raglus Bridge, Gobarup, replacement of bridge (year two of a two-year $261,500 project); and

$292,500 Bridge Barrier Program, bridge barrier and approach barrier replacements at various bridges across the shire.

Footpaths and cycleways - $1.2 million

$824,700 Footpath replacement program for multiple sections across the shire;

$218,000 South Boundary Road, Kyabram, replacement of shared path; and

$129,525 Eyre Street, Echuca, construction of new footpaths in Eyre Street supporting Echuca East Primary School (funded through the Healthy Hearts Victoria Program).

Roads - $9.1 million

$2,850,000 Gravel resheeting of local roads;

$3,485,500 Resealing of local roads;

$1,100,000 Resheeting gravel road shoulders of multiple sealed local roads;

$595,500 Finlay Road, Tongala, reconstruction between Palmer and McEwen Roads (year two of a two-year project with design completed in 2019/20); and

$309,000 Darling Street, Echuca, reconstruction between High and Hare Streets (year two of a two-year project with design completed in 2019/20.

Stormwater and flood control - $3.7 million

$800,000 Ramsay Street, Rochester, year two of replacing sections of the open concrete drain;

$36,000 South Boundary Road, Kyabram, replacement of outfall drain near the golf course;

$305,500 Replacement of rural road culverts across the shire;

$256,000 Stormwater pipe and pit maintenance program across the shire;

$685,000 McEwen Road, Kyabram, increase capacity works of east drainage basin (year three of a three-year $2.2 million project); and

$1,494,000 Ash Street, Echuca, drainage upgrade (year two of a two-year $2,724,744 project).

Playgrounds and recreation - $400,000

$42,500 Kyabram Recreation Reserve, detailed design for replacement netball courts ($495,667 project planned across future years);

$40,000 Replacement of playgrounds at various locations across the shire;

$80,000 Repainting of swimming pool shells at Kyabram and Stanhope; and

$125,875 Gunbower Lions Park, development of park (year one of a two-year $811,250 project).

Buildings and structures - $4.7 million

$3,464,422 Echuca East Community Precinct, redevelopment of site with a multipurpose community building, multipurpose open activity space, off leash dog park, cycling and walking paths, accessible play space (year one of a two-year $6.9 million project).

Have your say on the proposed budget

“I encourage the community to take a look at the budget and make a submission, everyone’s opinion is important,” Cr Weston said.

All submissions must be received in writing by 5pm on Wednesday, May 27. An online submission form is available from council’s website, www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/budget .

Council will consider public submissions at a submission hearing on Tuesday, June 2 at 5pm at the Echuca Civic Centre Function Room. This meeting may be live streamed and not open to the public, depending on the restrictions in place at the time.

“Council staff will work with submitters who wish to speak to their submission, which may have to be via teleconferencing,” Cr Weston said.

The 2020-21 budget will be considered for adoption on Tuesday, June 23 at 5pm taking into account any submissions received.

Due to the current coronavirus pandemic and closure of customer service centres, the budget can only be viewed online at council’s website. Alternatively, a copy can be emailed by calling customer service 1300 666 535.