22 June, 2016

Good news for City of Adelaide ratepayers

City of Adelaide has endorsed its 2016-17 Integrated Business Plan and for the second year in a row has put a freeze on its rate in the dollar.

Lord Mayor Martin Haese said that this was a great outcome for the city’s ratepayers.

“Due to high growth from new development in the city over recent years, the City of Adelaide’s rate base has grown significantly. This is the direct result of new construction projects coming on line. This has placed us in the fortunate position where we can take the pressure off existing rate payers by not increasing the rate in the dollar for the 2016-17 financial year,” Martin said.

“This means that the majority of property owners will once again have a zero increase on what was paid in rates last year.”

Council also voted to waive outdoor dining permit fees for the 2016-17 financial year for all businesses that comply with Council’s current Outdoor Dining Policy.

Councillor Houssam Abiad, who was behind the push to remove the fees, said that this would be an incentive to city businesses.

“This is about reducing red tape, stimulating business growth and supporting our city’s businesses in a tough environment.”

The 2016-17 Integrated Business Plan includes borrowings to fund the upgrade of Gawler Place, as well as city transformation projects such as Carbon Neutral Adelaide, Hindley Street stage two and Smart City projects.

The Plan aligns and integrates with Council’s new 2016-20 Strategic Plan and will work to deliver projects and outcomes set out within the plan.

Other key projects include:

• $32.7 million in asset renewals, including approximately $10 million towards roads and footpaths
• $8.8 million to develop further Smart City and Smart Organisation initiatives, including rolling out projects such as Smart Parking and Smart Lighting, and $298,000 towards the Adelaide Smart City Studio program to connect Adelaide’s entrepreneurs with development opportunities across the globe
• Council’s ongoing commitment to creating a greener, more liveable city with $2.4 million allocated towards the Greener Streets Program to increase greenery in built-up areas of the city by 100,000 square metres by 2020. A further $1.4 million has been allocated for specific Carbon Neutral Adelaide climate change initiatives to undertake genuine reductions in the city’s greenhouse emissions
• $338,000 toward Smart Move projects to continue to deliver outcomes such as safe cycling, pedestrian links, plus $802,000 in ongoing funding for the City Connector bus service including Tindo
• A strong emphasis on supporting business growth, as well as strengthening the relationship between business and Council, with a range of initiatives including seminars and events for small businesses, entrepreneur support programs, and investment attraction and trade growth workshop
• $160,000 for preliminary planning of the Central Market Arcade redevelopment
• $811,000 toward city activation to provide a platform for businesses and the community to trial and test initiatives aimed at increasing visitation and economic growth
• $1.6 million toward sponsorship for groups and organisations to assist in staging a diverse range of events and activities in the city
• $204,000 in financial support to assist art and cultural individuals and groups to deliver inspiring art, cultural and multicultural projects

Council has committed to providing ongoing support to enhance the amenity and access to the Central Market District, which includes a right hand turn from Grote Street, renewal within the Market Complex, as well as a joint investment with the State Government to transform the network of small streets and laneways between the Adelaide Central Market and the Riverbank.

City of Adelaide has committed to delivering efficiencies and savings across the organisation to deliver a balanced operating budget and support freezing the rate in the dollar.

The Plan focuses on delivering key projects, along with approximately $28 million to support core Council services such as cleansing and maintenance of public assets including roads, footpaths and public amenities, waste and recycling collections, upkeep of the Adelaide Park Lands and continuing to deliver high-quality services and infrastructure investment in a cost-effective way.

Importantly, Council will continue to deliver a diverse array of community services and activities including community centres, libraries, the provision of home and community care services, free training programs and business support through Enterprise Adelaide.

The 2016-17 Integrated Business Plan will be available on City of Adelaide’s website from 1 July.

Paula Stevens