Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Melbourne City Council last night adopted the city’s 2011-12 budget, formally agreeing to a rate rise of 1.65 per cent.
The rate increase is expected to be the lowest rate rise of any Victorian local government and Australian capital city. Council’s economic plan will also see a record investment in the city’s future, with $107.3 million to be spent enhancing and building new infrastructure.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the newly endorsed budget reflected sound economic management and would ensure the delivery of quality services and infrastructure.
“Now that the 2011-12 budget has been adopted we can start moving from plans to action and deliver a number of key infrastructure projects right throughout the city,” the Lord Mayor said.
“This is the year for pouring concrete and commencing construction on a number of projects that will secure the city’s future and cater for future growth.”
Key projects to take place in 2011-12 include:
- $4.75 million for the redevelopment of JH Boyd High School at Southbank. The proposed funding will be used to create a new community hub within the heritage school building comprising a library, child health services, meeting rooms, artist studios and other community facilities.
- A $5.9 million upgrade to Carlton Baths and Family Resource Centre. The City of Melbourne owned building, now more than 20 years old, will be renovated so it can continue to meet the growing needs of the community well into the future.
- $10.8 million towards stage 2 of the Swanston Street redevelopment between Bourke and Little Bourke streets, Collins and Little Collins streets and Franklin and A’Beckett streets.
- $2 million (which includes $1 million from the State Government) to be used for the design and commencement of construction works associated with City of Melbourne’s commitment to building a library and community centre at Docklands.
In addition, Council will inject:
- $11.2 million on measures to manage the predicted impacts of climate change and minimise the City of Melbourne’s carbon footprint and flood mitigation works worth $2.4 million.
- $1.2 million on city safety and security, including two new safe city taxi ranks in the central city in Collins Street (between Russell and Swanston Streets) and Bourke Street (between Russell and Swanston streets. This brings total number of ranks to six. A further $270,000 will be spent on late night activation, including extended operating hours for the Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square, extended hours for Riverslide Skate Park, and free late night music programs for the Town Hall Grand Organ.
- More than $700,000 towards the development and implementation of a community centre and health service at Drill Hall. The centre will provide a range of services for people experiencing homelessness including general practitioners, podiatrists, dieticians, outreach workers and nurses.
- $14.5 million on City of Melbourne events, including $120,000 for a new Indigenous Arts and Cultural festival and an additional $330,000 for enhancements to the second year of Melbourne Music as well as ongoing funding for Council’s premier events including Moomba, New Year’s Eve, and Melbourne Spring Fashion Week.
- $2.6 million will be spent reinvigorating Christmas across the city. Melbourne is set to be transformed this Christmas, with the City of Melbourne announcing plans to enliven the city’s streets with new decorations.
- Council has also outlined its intention to spend $1.5 million improving some of Melbourne’s premier streets with plans to undertake streetscape improvements in Flinders Lane between Elizabeth Street and Queen Street, and Elizabeth Street between Flinders Street and Collins Street. A key climate adaptation initiative includes the allocation of $63,000 for the use of warm mix asphalt which is a climate-sensitive alternative to traditional hot mix asphalt.
Councillor Brian Shanahan, Chair of the City’s Future Melbourne (Finance and Governance) Committee, Councillor Brian Shanahan said the 2011-12 budget reflected the City of Melbourne’s strong financial outlook.
Cr Shanahan said Council’s prudent financial management had been formally recognised recently when Standard & Poors rated Council’s credit rating as AAA/A-1+.
“This independent measure reaffirms Council’s strong financial position. It highlights that sound economic management is paying dividends and is giving us the ability to deliver quality community infrastructure and services but at the same time keep the impact on rate payers low,” Cr Shanahan said.