Community feedback needed on Moira's 2019/20 Budget

Published on 18 April 2019

Moira Shire Council is seeking community, business and stakeholder feedback following the release of its draft 2019/20 Budget and four-year Strategic Resource Plan (SRP).

"Our draft 2019/20 budget and SRP aim to balance the many and often competing needs of the Moira community. Now we are asking the community to tell us whether we have got the balance right," Mayor Libro Mustica.
Cr Mustica said Moira Shire had almost 30,000 residents spread across a large land area and this was a key consideration in developing council's annual budget and four year SRP. 
"We provide the same or similar services in multiple locations so we have a large number of assets to maintain," he said. 
"For example, council maintains 28 recreation reserves, showgrounds and swimming pools, more than 150 parks, gardens, playgrounds and public toilets, four libraries, a mobile library service and nine waste transfer stations.
Our businesses and communities are connected by one of the largest per capita road networks of any Victorian council.   

To fund the maintenance, renewal and upgrade of these assets our capital works are delivered across a multi-year cycle.

"This may see increased spend in one location or for a particular asset type in a single year but this balances out over the life of the program in response to changing needs, population growth and to ensure we continue to achieve our Council Plan priorities."

Bottom line impact

"From this year the Victorian Government will do annual revaluations of properties and this is a key factor determining the rate increase for individual properties,” Cr Mustica said. 

"The Victorian Government’s rate cap for 2019/20 has been set at 2.5%. Rates will generate around 50% of council's revenue - state and federal government grants make up the majority of the balance with many linked to specific services and projects." Cr Mustica said.

"Council set fees and charges have increased by around 2.5% however some charges have increased by more to recover the increase in the cost of delivering the service.

"In response to community feedback we have also reviewed the fees for hiring council managed halls including the Yarrawonga Town Hall, Cobram Civic Centre, Numurkah President’s Room and the Barmah Heritage and Education Centre.

"The budget proposes a commercial hire fee and a reduced fee for not-for-profit and community uses. 

Charities can also apply to council for the fees to be waived completely in some circumstances. We hope this will boost community and commercial use of these facilities."

Continuing large-scale capital works programs

In 2019/20 Council proposes delivery of new assets and the expansion, upgrade and renewal of existing assets including:

• $6.6 million for the construction of the Yarrawonga Multisports Stadium
• $900,000 for the redevelopment of the Tungamah Recreation Reserve change rooms
• $400,000 for the redevelopment of the Wunghnu Recreation Reserve community building
• $100,000 for works at the Nathalia Sports and community building
• $1.1 million for land improvements including irrigation systems, levee banks, signage and bollard renewals
• $8.4 million for roads, drainage and kerb and channel works across the shire including Gilmore Street Yarrawonga, Station Street Numurkah and accessible car parking in Yarrawonga and Numurkah
• More than $400,000 to deliver the Barmah Boat Ramp master plan, netball court works in Katunga, Katamatite and Numurkah and improvements to Tweddle Park Numurkah.

"Some of the proposed projects can only proceed if our grant applications are successful or following further community consultation,” Cr Mustica said.

Book an appointment to have your say 

Community members are invited to discuss their ideas and feedback on the budget and SRP with Councillors at four information sessions.

If you have some questions or you would like to discuss aspects of the budget in more detail please call our customer service team to book an appointment time for any of the four sessions.

• Tuesday 14 May - 10am - 11.30am Cobram, 1.30pm - 3pm Nathalia
• Thursday 16 May - 10am - 11.30am Numurkah, 1.30pm - 3pm Yarrawonga

Venue details will be confirmed with appointment booking.
“The sessions are not formal meetings, they are your chance to discuss the draft Budget and SRP with Councillors before the closing date for written submissions,” Cr Mustica said.

Written submissions deadline 5pm Thursday 23 May 2019.

All written submissions received by council by 5pm Thursday 23 May will be considered by council before considering a recommendation to adopt the draft 2019/20 Budget, with or without amendment, at a Special Council Meeting to be held on Wednesday 12 June.

A special council meeting will meet on Wednesday 29 May to hear any person who indicated in their written submission that they would like to speak in support of their submission on the draft 2019/20 Budget.