Council delivers a budget to build a better Brimbank

Brimbank Council has adopted its Annual Budget 2019-2020 with Mayor Cr Lucinda Congreve saying the Budget continues to deliver a significant program of Capital Works with a large portion of the budget, $71.6 million allocated to community infrastructure projects.

“This Budget will deliver services and programs for the next four years and create an inclusive, liveable and prosperous community.

“The vast majority of residential ratepayers – 72 per cent – will receive a reduction in their rates for 2019-2020 financial year.

“As a community-first Council, we are delivering a Budget that focuses on improving our city, investing in our built and natural environments, and supporting our community to have the best possible quality of life.

The Budget invests in a number of capital works projects across Brimbank, including:

  • $29.6 million for road and footpath improvements
  • $16.8 million for sports facilities upgrades, including $3.4 million for a new sports pavilion at Errington Reserve, St Albans, and $1.3 million each to redevelop three sports pavilions at Moore Park, Ardeer, Delahey Reserve, and Bon Thomas Reserve in Deer Park
  • $5.4 million for town centre upgrades, including $2.5 million for construction of the Hampshire Road Civic Green, and $800,000 for St Albans Streetscape upgrades
  • $4.9 million for parks, playgrounds and open space improvements
  • $2.9 million for sustainability projects, including installation of a Stormwater Harvesting System at Balmoral Reserve, Derrimut
  • $1.7 million for bike and walking paths, including Sydenham Rail Corridor Bicycle Track and Calder Freeway Recreational Trail, in Keilor North

“A key feature of this Budget is our commitment to a range of programs that will strengthen community capacity, encourage health and wellbeing and boost community participation.

“Through our 2019/2020 Community Grants Program we are proud to have $600,000 up for grabs for community groups and not-for-profit organisations to deliver projects and events that help make Brimbank stronger.

“Importantly, the Budget also includes funding to develop the St Albans Health and Wellbeing Hub in Keilor Downs.

“Replacing the St Albans Leisure Centre with a new Health and Wellbeing Hub is one of the most important infrastructure projects Council has ever undertaken.

“Council is proud to get this project underway with investment to continue in 2019-2020 and subsequent funding in the Long Term Financial Plan.

“We are also committed to creating a sustainable city and welcome an increase of $1 million in capital funding for sustainability projects – with the first project well underway being the Balmoral Reserve Stormwater Harvesting project.

“Council has made some slight changes to the Final Annual Budget in line with the redevelopment of the St Albans Health and Wellbeing Hub now planned to start later in the 2019-2020 financial year, continuing into the next financial year.

“The Budget will also include $36,000 for Council’s new initiative relating to the investigation and ongoing compliance of alleged illegal brothels in Brimbank.

The Budget was adopted following community feedback – and reflected community input as well as Council’s vision for Brimbank.

“We have been listening and responding to community feedback and we would like to thank everyone who made submissions on the draft budget.

“Council remains committed to ensuring that Brimbank is managed in a financially responsible way. We want to position Brimbank to ensure that we attract significant external investment and allow for further infrastructure and services that will greatly benefit our community,” Cr Congreve said.

The Budget proposes to increase total rates revenue by 2.5 per cent, in line with the Victorian Government’s 2.5 per cent rate cap for 2019-2020.

Capital projects

The Budget includes a healthy capital works budget of $71.6 million. Council will fund key capital works to strengthen and enhance our city, such as:

  • Road improvements, footpath replacement and repairs and kerb replacements ($29.6 million), including drainage rehabilitation ($1 million), and traffic management ($2.8 million), including safety improvements at various locations across Brimbank
  • Town centre improvements ($5.4 million), including commencement of Hampshire Road Master Plan Implementation – Stage 3, construction of Alfrieda Street Civic Plaza and various other activity centres improvements
  • Sport facilities upgrades and enhancements ($16.8 million), including the commencement of the replacement of St Albans Leisure Centre and four new Sports Pavilions
  • Playgrounds, parks and gardens ($4.9 million), including continuation of the upgrade of The Lakes Reserve Flagship Park in Taylors Lakes and redevelopment of MB Lynch Memorial Gardens, Sunshine
  • Sustainability projects ($2.9 million)
  • Bike paths and shared paths to connect our city ($1.7 million)
  • Improvements to community facilities ($3.0 million), including upgrades to community and early learning facilities, and upgrades to the East Sunshine and South Sunshine Kindergarten
  • Improvements to assets ($4.7 million), including $800,000 for library books and $2.8 million for replacement of plant and vehicle fleet

/Public Release. View in full here.