ROSEBUD Aquatic Centre construction work costing $11.2 million is the single biggest item in Mornington Peninsula Shire’s proposed 2020-21 budget.
Other big expenses are $4 million for road resealing and rehabilitation works, $1.5 million for construction works at Somerville Active Recreation Hub and $1.9 million for the Merricks Station grounds master plan.
The proposed budget is on display and is open for public comment until 21 May.
This comes as the council takes advantage of a time extension offered by the state government due to changed circumstances under COVID-19 (“Extra time to strike balance with budget” The News 14/4/20).
The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said due to the coronavirus pandemic, council decided to extend the public exhibition time of the proposed budget “to both give the community more time to review and provide comment, and to give council officers more time to assess the economic impacts we are seeing from COVID-19”.
“During this timeframe, we know further changes will be required as a result of COVID-19. We’ve already been assessing the challenges our community is facing and we’ll continue to explore every impact and make necessary changes – in accordance the Local Government Act – when the budget is brought before council for adoption on 14 July”.
“As a council, we are proactively addressing challenges locally and will continue to invest in our community to reduce the impact on essential services,” Cr Hearn said.
The rate cap has been set at 2 per cent.
Changes have been made to some elements of the rating strategy, recognition of properties under Trust For Nature, reduction in rates for rural living rate properties and increases to the waste service charge.
The proposed 2020-21 capital works budget is $52.5 million.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 28 April 2020
