Want to influence how the Shire allocates funds? Consultation for the 24-25 Budget is closing on 15 March. If you have not shared your ideas or ranked your priorities yet, we would love to hear from you.
While most of the money in the Budget is allocated to essential services, such as rubbish and recycling, road maintenance, family services and more, a portion of the Budget is spent at the discretion of Council and can be influenced by our community’s feedback.
Last year, consultation results showed that the top priority of our community was road safety and maintenance. Council took this on board and allocated a total operating budget of $26 million to transport connections, which is an eight per cent increase on the prior year spend.
Other highlights from last year’s budget are many, including, but not limited to:
- $2.6M for footpath renewal and risk mitigation
- $500,000 for a new playground in Hastings
- $2.9 M for a new pavilion at Red Hill Reserve
- $1 M to Canadian Bay foreshore carpark renewal
- $100,000 towards investigating soccer facilities in Somerville
- $5.5 million for the new Southern Peninsula Youth Hub
- $110,000 Sorrento netball courts renewal.
Other popular initiatives included introducing tip vouchers for tenants, increasing the number of no charge green waste events and removing the tip fees for mattresses, tyres and fridges.
The Shire has a strong track record of well-balanced budgets, however the local government sector faces a range of challenges, including rate capping, cost shifting from State Government and increasing maintenance and operational cost. Bearing this in mind, we are asking our community what changes they would support in order for Mornington Peninsula Shire to stay financially sustainable.
How to have your say
This consultation is open until 15 March. We are rewarding 10 lucky winners $100 café/restaurant vouchers. All those who take the Budget survey can opt in to the weekly draw to win.
Online
Rank your priorities and/or share your own ideas and feedback at mornpen.vic.gov.au/budget-2024-25
In writing
Hard copy feedback forms are available at our Customer Service Centres. Or, you can share your ideas in a letter or an email!
Write to us: Budget 2024-25, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Private Bag 1000, Rosebud, Vic, 3939
