Key budget initiatives include a $1 million upgrade at Rutherglen Caravan Park and $90,000 to provide a footpath link from the new Rutherglen aged care facility to the town centre.
Indigo mayor Sophie Price said the council had listened carefully to the community and developed a council plan and budget that balanced the needs of the diverse townships with significant challenges facing the local government sector, particularly around financial sustainability.
Cr Price said that despite significant financial pressures facing all Victorian councils, Indigo Shire had developed a draft budget that maintained all current services and introduced several important new initiatives.
“The documents have been directly shaped by what residents across the shire told council through various community engagement initiatives,” she said.
“The documents have been directly shaped by what residents across the shire told council through various community engagement initiatives.”
“Their responses reinforced the need for us to focus on road maintenance, infrastructure renewal, and community wellbeing – priorities that have directly shaped our budget.
“I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the development of these documents.”
The rate increase, endorsed at the monthly meeting on May 13, comprised the standard 3 per cent annual rate cap increase set by the State Government, plus 4.54 per cent for the transfer of the Environmental Management Contribution (EMC).
The EMC to general rates is in accordance with the Local Government Minister's 'Good Practice Guidelines for Service Rates and Charges’.
"This is a revenue-neutral change that will have no impact on council's total revenue, but it will change how waste services are funded,” Mayor Sophie Price said.
“At the same time, the EMC will be removed from rate notices."
The draft budget includes an $11.62 million capital works program of which $3.3 million is carried forward from the current budget to complete projects already approved.
Other initiatives, throughout the shire, include $4.6M for new, renewed, and upgraded roads, bridges, and pathways; $200,000 increase in road maintenance; $90,000 increase for streetscape beautification works; $25,000 for trail maintenance to support expanded rail trail and mountain bike networks; $40,000 to plan for the future of the shire's tourism in the context of increasing visitation and the future World Heritage Listing.
Cr Price said the engagement process was robust, with more than 1,900 visits to the Engaged Indigo digital platform and 284 active contributors participating through surveys, idea boards, and interactive mapping tools.
"We saw strong participation across all our townships, with 260 surveys submitted, 121 contributions to our ideas board and 41 locations mapped through our interactive tool," she said.
“This represents a significant level of community input that has genuinely influenced our strategic direction."
Rutherglen-based councillor, Roberta Horne said community input was down and a point council should address.
The draft budget is on exhibition for 21 days, until Wednesday, June 4, sorter than the usual 28 days.
All residents are encouraged to study the budget’s contents at engage.indigoshire.vic.gov.au and comment accordingly.
Council will consider all submissions before the final Council Plan and Budget are adopted at the June Council meeting.
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