Where I stand
I write to discuss Horsham Rural City Council’s 2018-19 Budget.
The process does not start off with a blank sheet of paper. The budget is a practical empowering of the aspirations and directions contained in the council plan.
The council plan is the road map which guides the priorities of our local government. The budget is the implementation commitment that makes things happen.
In recent weeks the commentary and debate has left the budget and focussed on the rating strategy – who pays how much, among the different sectors of our community.
That’s what we are, a community – a group of people living in commune.
We all contribute in some way and we all benefit in a variety of ways.
Some benefits we enjoy are experienced by choice, for example when we visit the swimming pool or library. Some benefits are experienced with expectation, for example street lighting and rubbish collection, and some benefits are experienced through necessity, for example meals on wheels and maternal and child health services for our children or grandchildren.
I would like to highlight important ex- penditure in the 2018-19 budget. • $365,539 in community grants will be distributed throughout our community. • $1.007-million will be spent on footpaths and cycling paths. • $1.905-million will be spent on rural roads reconstruction. • $1.09-million will be spent on waste management. • $210,000 on bridge works. • $400,000 for improvements to public spaces at the civic centre. • $51,000 on playground equipment. • $322,000 on rural road shoulders and re-sheeting. • $90,000 on tree pruning and clearing to assist farm machinery movements. • $2.49-million with grants, at the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal. • $15,000 at the Natimuk Kindergarten. • $24,000 on Horsham City Oval clubrooms. • $100,000 to progress the Wimmera Indoor Sports Stadium project.
• $28,000 to repaint Horsham Soundshell and angling club rooms. • $12,000 for the senior citizens building.
There are also improvements to local roads and streets including –
• $387,000 on Federation Avenue, $104,000 in Wavell Street, $230,000 on Grahams Bridge Road, $120,000 on O’brees Road, $143,000 to seal some of Plush-hannans Road, $230,000 for Wonwondah-dadswells Bridge Road, $215,000 for Noradjuha-tooan East Road and $272,000 for Fechler Avenue.
As well as the exciting works on our outdoor swimming pool, restumping and floor repairs at Horsham Town Hall and more improvements to the central business district to lift the experience for visitors and locals.
There is so much more and so many of these projects are employing local suppliers, contractors and businesses – families within our community.
Finally, the council will be undertaking an extensive and thorough review of its Rating Strategy in time for next year’s budget. This will be an opportunity for all ratepaying sectors to help design a new strategy.
In the words of Voltaire, translated by a trusted friend a few years ago… ‘In the search for perfection, don’t overlook what is good’.
I believe this budget is a good fit for our community. Cr Mark Radford Quantong