28 June, 2023

City Budget approved

Council has approved its Business Plan & Budget (BP&B) 2023/24 with some amendments that followed an extensive consultation process with the community. After taking community feedback into consideration, the changes now include:

• Upgrades to Light Square Electrical Infrastructure at an estimated cost of $400,000
• Amending Park Lands event fees from 1 October to reflect a reduction to 2020 fee levels
• A commitment to continuing to work with ACSARA on its proposed facility within Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W) and developing policy options for Park Lands buildings for the provision of fit for purpose facilities including toilets, changerooms and storage.
• Further detail on the timing and cost of upgrades for Gouger Street, Hutt Street, Hindley Street, O’Connell Street and Melbourne Street.

Post-COVID-19 budget repair and upgrades to city infrastructure remain the centrepieces of the plan. The finalised budget delivers $268 million in expenditure with highlights including:

• More than $100 million invested in Capital Works including more than $50 million in public infrastructure renewals in 2023/24.
• A $1.9 million operating surplus through a continued focus on responsible financial management.
• Savings of more than $400,000 in 2023/24 in addition to $4.8 million in savings in 2022/23 made possible through closely reviewing ongoing operating activities.
• More than $43 million invested in waste management, cleansing, horticulture and Park Lands.

The Lord Mayor thanked the community for its feedback. 

"After seeking feedback from our ratepayers over last month, the Council has now formally adopted its Business Plan and Budget for 2023/24,” said the Lord Mayor.

“We have noted the community feedback on the proposed facility within Park 21 West and on Park Lands events fees and have made some decisions in response to this.

“The budget outlines our plan for a conservative catch-up of our charges and charts us on a new course of cautious revenue raising, overall, by roughly 5 per cent.

“This new direction includes the planned reinstatement of waived outdoor dining and park lands event fees. Restoring these fees and charges will allow us to repair and revamp our public realm.

“As Lord Mayor, I want our city to operate with ambition, audacity, and vision but this cannot happen until we sort out the basics, such as work on our footpaths, roads, and parks.

“Ratepayers expect it from us, and this budget will help deliver on that.”

Matt Halliwell