Matt Hewson
Geelong council finalised its 2024-25 budget at its monthly meeting this week, incorporating a raft of changes in response to community feedback gathered since the draft version went out in April.
The changes, worth more than $2.7 million, include $650,000 for netball facilities at Richmond Reserve, $1.5 million for Hamlyn Park female change facilities, $432,000 to keep North Bellarine Aquatic Centre open during winter months and an extra $50,000 for Neighbourhood Houses.
During the discussion at the meeting, councillors emphasised projects that were receiving much-needed funding after missing out in previous years, such as drainage works at Kyema Park in Lara, funding for veterans’ memorials and the Geelong Youth Hub.
Councillor Sarah Hathway also introduced an amendment asking City chief executive Ali Wastie to review pricing and operational models for the Norlane Aquatic Recreation Centre to ensure affordability, usage and access.
Cr Hathway said the council had taken note of the furore around last year’s budget when approaching this one.
“We really heard the message loud and clear last year around libraries, around pools and around those core services that the community expects from council,” she said.
“We’ve listened and I think we’ve responded with this budget. And I think all residents who were part of that campaign last year, who’ve engaged with us on the listening posts this year, who came to the budget submissions process, should be really proud of the work that they’ve done.
“I genuinely feel that as a councillor group we have squeezed every last dollar that we could out of this budget to meet community need.”
Mayor Trent Sullivan emphasised the importance of careful spending given the 2.75 per cent rate rise cap, well below the rising cost of expenses.
“Having caps such as that, under CPI, does make it difficult to make those dollars go further,” he said.
“But this is a budget that I believe shows that this is what the council group, the executive, the officers have focused on: How can we do what we do better? How can we get the most value out of the ratepayers’ dollar?
“There’s something in this budget for absolutely everybody… No one’s getting left behind. We’re not just focusing on one area, this is a well-balanced, well-spread out budget.”
Go to geelongaustralia.com.au/budget to view the full budget.
