Northern Grampians Shire Council is entering “one of the most challenging periods in its history” after the release of a conservative 2017-18 draft budget.
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The draft budget, along with the 2017-2021 Council Plan and Strategic Resource Plan, was presented to councillors at a special meeting.
Mayor Cr Tony Driscoll said the budget was subject to a number of financial restrictions, including the state government’s rate capping measures and the federal government’s prior freeze on federal assistance grants.
“This is a conservative budget, which has been impacted by a number of financial constraints,” he said.
“We are attempting to maintain our existing infrastructure, and to continue to offer services as best we can in a tight fiscal environment.”
The 2017-18 budget document outlined council’s plans to spend $10.9 million on capital works, parks, recreational works, buildings and drainage works, $9 million on roads and bridges, $2.9 million on children’s services, $1.8 million on waste management and another $1.8 million on shire maintenance.
There were also plans to spend $1.1 million on roads and footpath maintenance and $110,000 towards implementing the Halls Gap Tourism Master Plan.
Major projects such as the Nectar Farms hydroponic development and the Underground Physics Laboratory will continue to be supported.
“The introduction of rate capping measures, combined with the freeze on Federal Assistance Grants, means that we are facing a period of change,” Mayor Cr Driscoll said.
“Not only in terms of the services we offer to the community, but the ways in which we offer them.
“Council is committed not to tackle this challenge with a negative mindset, but rather to meet it head-on.”
The general financial indicators showed council would struggle to be a sustainable entity with current service levels.
The deficit included depreciation, which indicated council is unable to renew its stock of assets with the existing levels of funding.
“Some tough decisions will have to be made, but council will ensure it considers all the potential outcomes before any major changes are made,” Mayor Cr Driscoll said.
“Already, we have begun to implement our four-year Council Plan, which sets out clear objectives for the Shire’s future.”