Public budget pleas ignored

Hard waste collection, revamp of city centre features of 2018-19 budget

GEELONG council has resisted calls for change and approved an unchanged budget for 2018-19.

Councillors last night ticked off their $434 million blueprint, ignoring dozens of public requests for greater funding support on a range of initiatives.

The budget limits the general residential rate rise to 2.5 per cent, in line with the rates cap set by the State Government.

To deal with the crisis impacting the recycling industry nationwide, the council has raised its waste charges by 11.5 per cent.

Residents will gain some relief through a smaller State Government-imposed Fire Services Property Levy.

The average homeowner will enjoy a 17 per cent reduction in the levy — a saving of almost $29.

The council said the budget was crafted amid several challenges, including population growth, ageing infrastructure, the rates cap and the China-led recycling crisis.

A key is the introduction of a hard-waste collection.

After being discussed for several years, the new council has worked quickly to introduce the popular scheme, at a cost of $6.80 per property.

From April next year, residents will be able to use one hard-waste pick-up service annually.

The budget also continues the strong focus on the council’s partnership with the State Government on revitalising central Geelong.

A total of $3.4 million will go towards improving lighting, CCTV and other smart city design features, with $3m to create landscaping and park- lands around the proposed convention centre.

Other new major capital works projects include: $6.7 million for the neighbourhood activity centre in Armstrong Creek;

$4 million for child and family centres in Drysdale and Lara; $3.06 million for the Armstrong Creek town centre; and, $2.5 million for an early childhood learning centre next to Bellaire Primary School in Highton. Council is spending $42 million on loans in 2018-19, with about two-thirds deferred from this financial year.

The projected total amount of borrowings in June 2019 is $80.7 million.

Despite 89 public submissions, the budget went through unchanged from its draft form.

Of those, 59 supported Barwon Heads Football Netball Club’s bid for infrastructure and maintenance support.

The club had sought flood lighting for its second oval, to offset a crowded training schedule on the main Howard Harmer Reserve.

The council rejected the push, calling on the club to do more pre-planning work so it can better present the feasibility and cost of the upgrade.