Our 2015 local show has again been very successfully staged, helped by a couple of days of ideal weather. The extensive variety of events coupled with unique opportunities to exhibit and perform, or just to walk around the grounds and see our district go into the “shop window” are all features of our show. None of this could occur without the commendable efforts of the committee and stewards and the work put into preparing the grounds and pavilions.
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Coming so soon after Anzac Day and the Centenary of the Gallipoli Landing, it was indeed appropriate to include, as part of the official opening, a tribute to those who served and those who did not come home. For us to live in peace and freedom and attend events like our local show is surely the type of Australia those who we remember would have wanted.
Council held its annual Estimates Meeting last week and has put out our Budget and Operational Plan for 2015/16. This now has 28 days of exhibiting our works program and expenditure programs for public consultation and council invites comment and submissions. An executive summary to explain the main feature of the budget will accompany the document that will be on exhibition at the council chambers and the library. Please contact the General Manager, Derek Francis, myself or any of the councillors if you would like to discuss any aspects of the budget.
Next financial year’s budget is probably more important than others as aspects of it will form key parts of our Fit for the Future submission, due to be submitted by the end of June. The overall $17.5m budget result shows a $530,000 surplus with the General Fund, Waste, Sewer and Water Funds all generating surpluses.
The major capital works in this budget are the Pangee Street Medical Centre, Long Day Care Centre, the new Waste and Recycling Depot, upgrade to the Town Hall toilets and over $1.2m to be spent on gravel resheeting, resealing and road construction.
Council will retain its employment levels and needs to fund a wage increase of 2.7 per cent. This very quickly absorbs the rate increase in the General Fund of 2.4 per cent that we have taken which is the amount allowed by the State Government rate peg.
Major changes will need to occur out at the tip to comply with the strict licence conditions application to the new cell north of the existing location. A tip operator will need to be employed to carry out daily tasks and open and close the tip. Different sites will need to operate for different types of waste, and the main cell will need to have each day’s deliveries covered, watered and compacted. We do not set any of these regulations locally, but need to conform or we will lose the facility.
In an effort to ease the required increase to fund these new conditions, council has proposed in its draft budget to open five days a week from 9am to 5pm (will include weekends) which will be an increase of over $100,000 to operate the tip, and increase of over $84 for residential customers waste management charge.
Other items include continuing Pangee Street beautification along the northern side.
The large trees at the front of Davidson Park will not be removed. Extra funds have been allocated to maintenance grading of local roads.
Some loan funds have been taken out to commence our Retirement Village Complex, or to be used for staff housing.
Some funds have been allocated to provide fuel at the airport, but extra money will need to be provided from other sources.
RL Donald
Mayor
