Council told to tighten its belt

Two residents were applauded after calling on Baw Baw Shire Council to scale down its spending and “tighten its belt.”

Wayne Newton and Helen Case were amongst 40 submitters at a special meeting on Wednesday to encourage community feedback on council’s draft 2023/24 budget.

They were ultimately drowned out by 36 groups or individuals seeking council to fund their project or causes. In addition, Baw Baw Shire Ratepayers and Citizens Association (BBSRCA) made its priorities clear and a resident called for the pensioner rate rebate to be increased.

Mr Newton declared “councillors must consider the financial strain faced by residents when formulating the budget” and called on capital projects “to be scaled down or put on hold.”

“I believe ratepayers have had enough,” Ms Case added in her submission. “They would value council having to tighten its belt and live within its current means”.

Calling for equitable councillor representation, financial responsibility and inclusive communication strategies, Mr Newton said councillors must act in the best interests of ratepayers. “Remember councillors have the power to say no...and should not simply vote to accept an unacceptable budget,” he said.

“With over 300 staff, I consider Baw Baw Shire Council bloated, as the core services road, maintenance and waste - are currently outsourced.”

“The budget seeks to add a further 12 positions. Is this really critical in the current financial situation?” he asked.

As well as seeking cost saving measures, Mr Newton said relying on social media platforms such as Facebook as its primary communication strategy was excluding older residents.

Ms Case said “rates are not Monopoly money”. “Ratepayers, taxpayers, are seriously doing it tough,” she said. “Most are having to rethink where their money now goes and live within restricted budgets.”

Whilst acknowledging Baw Baw Cultural Precinct and Warragul Leisure Centre expansion as great projects, Ms Case questioned “is now the critical time for such projects?”.

“Focus on the needed and necessary and put on hold the wish list items,” she urged.

Ms Case also requested council look at the impact Coffee Lane was having on traffic and pedestrians within Williams Square.

Warragul pensioner Valerie McKerihan, who has lived in the shire for the past 24 years, said she opened her rates with “anxiety or trepidation”.

Whilst rates and garbage fees had increased, Ms McKerihan urged council to look at the stagnant $50 pension rebate.

“Why is it the pension rebate from Baw Baw Shire has remained the same for over 10 years?” she asked.

BBSCRA representative Kerry Elliott’s submission focused on parking, drainage and the proposed Baw Baw Cultural Centre.

Ms Elliott said there had been no action to date on a parking cash in lieu scheme recommended in two parking studies.

“Realistically council must undertake this work to establish a carparking fund so that future applications can contribute to the future carparking needs of Warragul,” Ms Elliott said. “This matter needs to be given priority.”

She questioned an overall reduction in drainage maintenance and improvement in the draft budget. “The abandonment of the flood mapping project deferred a problem, but really the cause of the need for flood mapping continues.”

In relation to the Baw Baw Cultural Centre, Ms Elliott said BBSRCA believed it should not proceed until external grants were secured.

She said they were concerned the project would get to a stage when it became “impossible to stop.”