Manningham Council is now seeking community feedback on its draft 2020/21 Annual Budget.
The Annual Budget details the major initiatives and resources needed over the coming financial year.
Manningham Mayor, Cr Paul McLeish, said Council has approved the Annual Budget ‘in principle’ at its meeting on Tuesday 26 May, and are now inviting community feedback.
“In developing this year’s budget, we have focussed on progressing Council’s long term financial plan while providing cost-effective services and delivering infrastructure projects to meet the needs of our community.
“We have a $53 million capital works program to maintain and improve our $2.2 billion of community assets, as part of our $132 million budget which delivers more than 100 services for our community,” Cr McLeish said.
The draft 2020/21 Annual Budget is available for viewing online at yoursaymanningham.com.au/budget
To have your say, make a submission in writing either:
- online at yoursaymanningham.com.au/budget
- by post to Chief Financial Officer, Manningham Council, PO Box 1, Doncaster VIC 3108
Consultation on the 2020/21 Annual Budget closes at 4.00pm on Thursday 25 June 2020.
Council’s proposed $132 million operating budget provides funding to deliver community services, highlights include:
- $12.0 million for the maintenance of roads, drains, footpaths and bridges
- $13.0 million for waste and recycling
- $12.6 million for the maintenance of sportsgrounds, parks and gardens
- $10.2 million for aged and disability support services
- $9.6 million for customer services, Citizen Connect, IT and Transformation
- $6.8 million for health, local laws, animal management, food safety, litter and traffic management
- $5.8 million for planning, maintaining and operating Council’s property and buildings
- $4.6 million for strategic land use and open space planning
- $5.6 million for community services, including maternal and child health, immunisation, pre-schools, community development grants and community planning services
- $4.5 million for libraries
- $3.8 million for statutory planning services
- $2.9 million for economic development, tourism and grants
- $2.2 million for community venues and hall hire
Included within the draft Budget is Council’s extensive Capital Works Program of $53 million which comprises:
- $13.0 million for roads, including $6.7 million for road reseals and refurbishment, $3.7 million as part of the Road Management Strategy to upgrade the road network and $1.0 million for Jumping Creek Road Stage 1A
- $6.0 million for community buildings, including $2.9 million for the ongoing renewal of community buildings, $2.0 million on upgrades to Civic buildings and $1.2 million on the renewal of recreation buildings
- $13.0 million to recreation and community facilities, including $8.0 million for Pettys Reserve Sporting Development Stage 2, $1.2 million for floodlighting, $1.1 million for Rieschiecks Reserve Management Plan implementation, $0.9 million for Domeney Reserve and $0.3 million for Deep Creek Pavilion development
- $4.6 million for drainage improvements
- $3.5 million for parks, open space and streetscapes, including $0.8 million for playspaces development, $0.6 million for Lions Park Warrandyte Rivers Reserve, $0.4 million for implementation of Koonung Park Management Plan, $0.2 million for Tullamore Park upgrade and $0.2 million for Ruffey Lake Park development
- $4.5 million to renew Council’s core IT and telecommunications infrastructure
- $4.2 million to improve footpaths and cycle ways
- $1.2 million for plant and equipment.
To assist our community during COVID-19, Council is delivering the following relief measures:
- Special payment arrangements for those experiencing financial hardship
- No increase in waste charges despite cost increases to council
- An increase in the Low Income Rate Rebate (an increase from $64.25 to $100)
- Additional support services for older residents
- 50% discount on footpath trading permits in 2020/21
- 50% discount on trader parking permits in 2020/21
- 50% discount on food premises registration in 2020/21
- 50% discount on health premises registrations in 2020/21
- The introduction of a Local Business Development Program
- Rent and lease relief and subsidies on utilities costs for clubs and community groups
- The introduction of a COVID-19 community relief fund.
The value of the community relief measures listed above are in the order of $3.0 million in 2020/21 (in addition to $0.75 million in 2019/20).
Council services have been impacted by COVID-19 and the financial impacts on services are estimated to be in the order of $2.4 million in 2020/21 (in addition to the forecast impact of $2.7 million in 2019/20).
Factoring in the impacts of COVID-19, Council remains in a financially sustainable position and continues to be debt free.
For more information, visit yoursaymanningham.com.au/budget
