Close Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
  • Competition
  • Home New
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Wednesday, July 2
Breaking News
  • E-bike rider charged following fatal collision in Hastings
Facebook X (Twitter)
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Home New
Breaking News
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»Council Watch»Shire seeks transparency and budget reform
Council Watch

Shire seeks transparency and budget reform

By MP News GroupMarch 9, 2021No Comments3 Mins Read
Steve Holland
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Steve Holland

By Steve Holland*

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have for the first time held an open briefing before releasing a draft budget.

A recording of the Tuesday 2 March public meeting is available on the shire’s YouTube channel.

I would encourage other municipalities around Victoria to adopt this new practice, as it proved to be a win for transparency and lifts the lid on the local government budget formulation process.

According to the state government website, Know Your Council, the shire’s rates are much lower than other municipalities. While some residents will dispute this, the statistics are publicly available and speak for themselves.

Because the shire had low, below average rates when rate capping was introduced, it will continue to have rates well below the state average. The effect of rate capping is to maintain the status quo average among municipalities.

I’m glad that our shire is classed as a low-rating municipality and I don’t believe a rate increase in the 2021-22 financial year could be justified. As we learnt on Tuesday night, this year’s 1.5 per cent rate cap could be offset with a direct rebate.

Initial forecasts indicate the shire is edging toward $250 million in annual revenue, with about $35 million set aside for capital works, priority projects and the COVID-19 recovery. Close to 80 per cent of the shire’s revenue comes from rates and user charges.

It is my role as a councillor to balance our shire’s reliance on comparably low levels of rate revenue with comparably high and ever-increasing demands for services and community infrastructure.

Nearly eight million tourists visit our region every year. Holidaymakers and day trippers flock to our foreshores and hinterland and use the facilities we provide across the peninsula. It’s a great privilege to live in a desirable tourist destination and our small businesses certainly rely on it.

However, we must devise some strategies to shift the revenue burden away from our residents and ratepayers. Our roads, footpaths, car parks, foreshores and community facilities require a much-needed capital injection.

We have to cater for seasonal demand and residents shouldn’t be expected to shoulder that load.

As we head into a federal and state election cycle, I look forward to embarking on an advocacy campaign to ensure our townships receive the attention they deserve.

Personal views aside, if the state government continues to classify us as metropolitan, then it’s reasonable to expect a level of infrastructure funding commensurate with that classification.

Tuesday evening was an opportunity to discuss some local revenue opportunities including paid parking in key tourist hotspots (no charge for ratepayers, of course) and a levy on short-stay rental accommodation.

These policies will be targeted at capturing the tourist dollar to reduce our reliance on ratepayer revenue. There will be some industry and lobby groups that will very vocally oppose such moves. I challenge them to present us with an alternative.

There’s a lot of work to be done, but if we get it right it could be truly transformative for the future of our community and the economic sustainability of our shire.

*Steve Holland is a Mornington Peninsula Shire Briars Ward councillor.

First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 9 March 2021

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Shire secures $3.9m to tackle road safety

June 16, 2025

Kinder flyer flag snub prompts councillors to take over

June 10, 2025

Council adopts ‘fresh vision’ with ‘stronger community ties’

May 6, 2025

Council hubs to stay open despite $389 per visit

April 30, 2025
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Peninsula Essence Magazine – Click to Read
Peninsula Kids Magazine – Click to Read
Letters to the Editor
Property of the Week

14 Bass Street, McCrae

June 3, 2025
Council Watch

Shire secures $3.9m to tackle road safety

June 16, 2025

Kinder flyer flag snub prompts councillors to take over

June 10, 2025
100 Years Ago This Week

Baxter – On The ‘Wallaby’ with a walking group

July 1, 2025
Interview

Firefighter shows skills from sea to snow

February 5, 2024
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Home New
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook X (Twitter)
© 2025 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.