By Parker McKenzie
With Knox City Council releasing their draft 2022-23 budget online, Ferntree Gully residents will see the maximum amount of rate increases allowed as council looks to complete several large infrastructure and sporting projects throughout the suburb.
Residents in Knox will see a 1.75 per cent increase in rates across the board in the newest draft budget, the maximum allowed under State Government caps on rate increases.
Knox City Council is projecting total revenue from rates and charges to reach $112.2 million for the 2022-23 financial year. While on average rates will increase by 1.75 per cent, residents may see a different increase based on their individual experience, the council said.
“It is important to note, the actual rate increases experienced by individual ratepayers may differ from the 1.75 per cent increase due to revaluations,” Council said.
“Rate increases are impacted by the average rate increase and the property valuation increases or decreases of individual properties relative to the average across the municipality.”
Council also projects a surplus of $7.9 million based on operating results for the 2022-23 year. It has allocated $106.9 million towards the ongoing delivery of services to the Knox community and $81.8 million towards capital works projects — projects which create assets — including $31.6 million worth of projects carried forward from the previous year.
Council has allocated $18.3 million on sporting upgrades throughout Knox, $11.4 million to parks and reserves, $11.6 million to improve roads and drainage, $4.5 million for footpaths and cycling paths, $3.5 million for a new library at Westfield Knox and $900,000 to upgrade Erica Avenue in Boronia.
Roads in Ferntree Gully will be receiving funding for upgrades, with Mossfield Avenue being allocated $375,000, Adele Avenue $370,000 and The Haven receiving $15,000 for design works to begin.
Upper Ferntree Gully Rail Link will receive $150,000 for footpaths and cycleways, along with $45,000 for Rose Street and $15,000 for Ferntree Gully Road.
Kevin Avenue in Ferntree Gully was allocated $200,000 for flood investigation and the Knox Regional Netball Centre will receive $740,000 for building redevelopment and associated works along with $15,000 for car park and landscaping work. $2.3 million in funding for the centre has been carried over from the 2021-22 budget.
$309,000 for Mountain Highway works in Upper Ferntree Gully have been carried over from 2021-22, along with $752,000 for drainage projects in the suburb.
Knox City Council has released the full draft budget online and is asking the community to provide feedback by Sunday May 29.
