ARARAT Rural City Council will kick off a series of face-to-face and online consultations next week as it seeks community feedback on its draft budget for 2022-23.
Mayor Jo Armstrong said the draft Budget is about organisational efficiency and getting back to basics.
“Over the past two years, we have tackled big-ticket projects,” Cr Armstrong said.
“As a result of our success, there is now housing underway in the Ararat East Development Zone, record investment delivered to improve freight efficiency on our rural roads, and a reactivated campus facility in Laby Street, otherwise known as the Ararat Jobs and Technology Precinct.
“Councillors and officers have worked collaboratively to develop a draft budget that improves how council manages community amenity, including a community projects fund, improved public open spaces, footpaths and bike paths, waste charges and capital works,” she said.
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“A major transformation project is the roll-out of a four-bin residential waste and recycling service, making Ararat a leader in managing waste sustainability,” Cr Armstrong said.
The Draft Budget 2022/23 will allow council to invest $8.71 million in capital works projects, of which $1.5 million is directed to Council’s Community Projects fund to ensure the continued improvement of community and recreational facilities to support community wellbeing.
“The community will notice that council’s draft budget simply gets on with delivering our core services and key projects without imposing the pressures of volatility in the civil construction and building sectors on residents and ratepayers,” Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tim Harrison said.
“We’ve worked to develop key targets for financial performance and delivery that hold us accountable to our ratepayers.
Dr Harrison said the budget and revenue and rating plan will enable council to restore fairness to ratepayers with a net-zero per cent increase in rates over the past five years.
“Now, we need your feedback on how we can continue driving improvement to give the Ararat community the council services it deserves. Remember, your rates fund the budget, and our job is to do what is best for the community we live in,” Dr Harrison said.
Copies of the draft budget are available via www.engage.ararat.vic.gov.au .
Submissions can be made via the Engage Ararat website, or by writing to Ararat Rural City Council – PO Box 246, Ararat, VIC, 3377, or emailing [email protected] . Submissions are open until Friday 24 June at 5:00pm.
Information sessions
Community Information Sessions are taking place at the following community venues:
- Monday 13 June: Tatyoon – 6.30pm Tatyoon Hall
- Tuesday 14 June: Elmhurst – 11am Elmhurst Hall
- Wednesday 15 June: Pomonal – 6.30pm Pomonal Hall
- Thursday 16 June: Willaura – 1pm Willaura Hall
- Thursday 16 June: Lake Bolac – 6.30pm Lake Bolac Complex
- Friday 17 June: Ararat – 11am Ararat Town Hall
For Online Community Information Sessions, please RSVP with your email and chosen session to [email protected] . Online sessions will be held on:
- Wednesday 15 June at 1pm
- Thursday 16 June at 5pm