City of Palmerston unveils $60 million budget, lists priorities under 2024–25 Municipal Plan

The Northern Territory’s second biggest city has tightened its belt compared to last year’s budget, but there are still sweeteners for ratepayers in suburbs including Driver, Zuccoli and Marlow Lagoon.

Render of the future Zuccoli Community Hub. Picture: City of Palmerston

The City of Palmerston, home to more than 41,000 residents, will administer a $60 million budget in 2024–25, with the suburbs of Zuccoli and Driver emerging as the big winners of the council’s $10 million-plus capital works program.

According to the draft Municipal Plan 2024–25, released on Monday, rates are expected to rise by 4.9 per cent to fund the council’s plans, equating to an additional $65 per annum for more than two-thirds of local ratepayers.

The cost of residential kerbside bin collection will rise from $527 to $557.

Taken together, most ratepayers will see an overall increase of $1.83 per week.

Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell said the council “recognises the many challenges that face our community”.

“Which is why... we are placing heavy focus on community safety, asset maintenance, and delivering on projects that will enhance the city, impacting positively on the local economy,” she said.

The City of Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell. Photograph: Che Chorley

After enormous capital works budgets in previous years, headlined by developments such as the SWELL Palmerston aquatic centre, the council plans to spend a far more modest $10.83m – less than half what was spent the year prior, $26.8m.

Significant line items in the capital works program include $500,000 to develop a cafe at SWELL, $1.25m for stage 1 of the Driver Community Centre upgrade, $150,000 to design and build a skate park and pump track at Zuccoli, and $300,000 towards designing the Zuccoli Community Hub.

Playground renewals and upgrades across Palmerston have received $846,600, tree planting gets $500,000, lighting upgrades and maintenance $556,400, and there is also $150,000 to develop a Marlow Lagoon Master Plan.

Preliminary design for the redeveloped Driver Family Resource Centre, which would be renamed the Driver Community Centre. Picture: City of Palmerston

The Community Benefit Scheme will have a war chest of $250,000 to distribute over the year to worthy individuals, events and organisations.

According to the municipal plan, one of the most significant changes to take effect in 2024–25 is the introduction of new Animal Management By-Laws on July 1 following an “exhaustive consultation process”.

For the first time, felines are brought under the regulatory scheme, as is livestock, while microchipping is now compulsory for both cats and dogs.

There are new, more onerous requirements for registering dangerous pets, while penalties for offences against the By-Laws have been increased.

With felines now included under the By-Laws, the council will deliberate on “the feasibility of establishing a cattery facility... a significant project contingent upon available land space and resources”.

The council’s draft Municipal Plan 2024–25 is available for feedback until June 10.

palmerston.nt.gov.au/council/haveyoursay/2024/draft-municipal-plan-2024-25

Originally published as City of Palmerston unveils $60 million budget, lists priorities under 2024–25 Municipal Plan