By Jena Carr
Surf Coast Shire Council will focus on delivering core services and investing in critical facilities, with its draft budget now available for community submissions.
The 2024-25 draft budget, featuring a 2.75 per cent proposed rate increase, was passed by eight councillors and voted against by one during council’s Tuesday, April 23, meeting.
Ongoing capital works such as the Winchelsea Pool and Surf Coast Aquatic Centre will receive $41.4 million, and new projects such as the Great Ocean Road bike route would receive $11 million through the proposed $52.4 million capital expenditure program.
Councillor Libby Stapleton said the budget got tighter each year, and “fewer discretionary funds” were available for new priorities.
“Developing the budget is a challenging process and we know that there are many important and competing priorities throughout the shire,” she said.
“With the state government rate cap of 2.75 per cent, the revenue collected from rates cannot keep up with escalating costs of the materials and services our community needs.
“Operating in a financially strained environment means that we have to say no to many of the things that we’d like to do for our community, it doesn’t mean these things are not important.”
The draft budget features an increase of the rural garbage collection charge by $34 to $461, a forecast net surplus of $8.8 million, and $862,000 for climate emergency response initiatives.
Cr Mike Bodsworth said he would have liked to see more information in the budget report about what free parking in the shire costs the council and ratepayers.
“Free parking, particularly in our town centres, entrenches driving as the transport mode of choice,” he said.
“Free parking benefits individuals at all ratepayer’s expense, which is inequitable and contrary to the user-pays principle that underpins our other fees and charges.
“However, I am delighted to see the proposed allocation of $1.3 million for the redevelopment of the Anglesea netball courts, which will be a great complement to the newly completed pavilion.”
Visit yoursay.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/budget to view council’s 2024-25 draft budget and to provide feedback by 10am on May 20. Council will consider adopting the final budget at its June 25 meeting.
