By Eleanor Wilson
On Monday 26 June. Cardinia Shire Council unanimously voted to adopt its council budget for 2023-24 at a special council meeting.
The budget features a capital works program of $113.79 million, of which 17.9 per cent will be put towards Princes Highway intersection upgrades at Tivendale and Bayview Roads in Officer.
$16.3 million will be injected into the Sealing the Hills project, while $10 million will go towards the Connecting Cardinia road sealing program.
Sporting facilities across the municipality will also benefit from the budget, with $5.4 million set aside for the Kooweerup Bowls and Community Facility, $3.6 million for the Garfield netball pavilion upgrades, $1.4 million for the Upper Beaconsfield Recreation Reserve and $1 million for the Pakenham Tennis Club room renovation.
In addition, $7 million was allocated for an integrated children’s facility in Beaconsfield, alongside $2.5 million for the Cardinia Youth facility.
Ratepayers in the shire will incur a 3.5 per cent rates increase for the 2023-24 financial year, in line with the State Government’s rate cap.
The residential garbage service charge will also increase, at an average unit cost increase of 6.7 per cent, and 3.3 per cent for the green waste service.
These increases are proposed to subsidise increased waste and garbage contract costs of approximately 7.6 per cent for 2023/24, together with a Victorian government landfill levy increase of approximately $3.37 per tonne, the council said.
The budget was passed with a deficit of $9.76 million.
In response to 109 submissions to the council’s budget feedback process, councillors elected to include several additional projects within the budget.
This includes the announcement that parking at Emerald Lake Park would become free for Cardinia Shire residents, while non-residents will be charged $40 for an annual pass.
It also encompasses the fast-tracked construction of a pavilion at Cora Lynn Reserve, with $408,611 in additional funding and an investment in a ‘choose tap’ fountain at the Garfield Recreation Reserve oval.
Council officers will also organise members of the Parks Services Team and Citywide to inspect the Bunyip Oval and provide maintenance recommendations to the Recreation Reserve Committee, including providing a recommended annual maintenance schedule.
Councillors voted in unanimous support of the budget, describing it as a “sustainable and responsible” budget.
Many councillors regarded this year’s budget as being the “most in depth” in many years.
Deputy mayor Jack Kowarzik said he was proud to pass on this year’s budget.
“I’m really proud of this budget and the work it empowers our organisation to do,” he said.
“There’s something for everyone in this budget, it’s true it is a people’s budget.”
