DESPITE the current climate of uncertainty, the Gannawarra Shire Council has released its draft 2020/2021 budget, which was adopted by councillors at the April meeting last Wednesday.
Due to the coronavirus crisis, the time frame for the release of council budgets across the state was extended by two months, causing some local governments to delay the process, however, Gannawarra was already well advanced in budget preparation and pushed ahead with releasing the document.
The draft budget sees an average rate increase across all ratepayer categories of 2 per cent, which is the maximum allowable under the state government’s Fair Go Rates System, but is 0.5 per cent less than last year’s rise.
It also contains moderate rises in rubbish collection charges.
The document shows Gannawarra Shire Council revenue of $36.08 million for 2020/2021, made up of more than $15 million in operating and capital grants as well as $13.7 million raised from rates and charges.
It projects a surplus of $6.7 million and an underlying surplus of $1.6 million.
?The underlying surplus – adjusted to exclude grants and other allocated funds – shows the council to be in a sustainable economic position.
The budget outlines an expanded capital works program enabled by increased grant funding this financial year.
Its $15 million capital works program – compared to $10 million budgeted last year – focuses on roads, footpaths and bridges, parks and recreational facilities, flood mitigation and tourism initiatives.?
Major projects include the $290,000 completion of the Appin South bridge and $300,000 replacement of the Apex Park Bridge at Reedy Lake, a $1.3 million expansion of Kerang’s industrial estate and the $150,000 second stage of the Kerang CBD redevelopment.
Highlight items include the $1.6 million Cohuna CBD Waterfront Development, a $600,000 upgrade of the Cohuna skate park and a $520,000 development of an All Abilities playground at Koondrook – which are all subject to the success of grant applications.
Also reliant on external funding is the $813,000 allocation for the purchase of sustainable recreational water for Quambatook.
The Gannawarra Community Grants program has received an allocation of $83,500, and a further $250,000 will go towards Major Project Funding for the maintenance and development of projects non-council owned land.
Among other things the draft budget contains $135,000 for the renewal of swimming pools around the shire, $65,000 for a ReSpark the Park redevelopment initiative for the Cullen St playground in Cohuna, $30,000 for tree planting and $100,000 for library book replacement.
Councillors at Wednesday’s meeting commended council staff on their hard work and achievement in balancing competing demands to produce the financial document.
The council emphasised that the budget was prepared before the pandemic and may change as a result of community feedback.
The draft budget can be viewed online at gannawarra.vic.gov.au.?Community feedback is due by Monday, May 25, with the final budget set to be presented at the council’s June meeting.
