Push for extra road funds

PROJECTS great and small have been pitched for inclusion in Clarence Valley Council's 2012/13 budget.

PROJECTS great and small have been pitched for inclusion in Clarence Valley Council's 2012/13 budget.

The deadline for submissions on the local authority's "most important document" closed at 4pm yesterday.

Despite poor attendance at public meetings across the region, Mayor Richie Williamson said it was only one way for the community to get involved and the council had still received a number of submissions.

"These have been varied, suggesting a wide range of projects for council to consider funding," Cr Williamson said.

He said shelters at Ashby and Harwood were items suggested for inclusion but personally he wanted to see $1 million out of the $7.1 million general fund put towards extra road maintenance.

Deputy general manager Rob Donges said he would be collecting and costing the submissions during the next few weeks before preparing a report for council in June.

"We don't make a recommendation," Mr Donges said.

"It's clearly the responsibility of councillors to decide what goes in and what goes out and they are more than capable of doing that."

Mr Donges said if the council wanted to maintain its existing projected budget, any more projects, if funded from its general fund, would need to be funded by a reduction in other areas or increasing borrowings.

"We'll also be poking around a few hollow logs to try to find some money for projects that meet criteria," Mr Donges said.

Cr Williamson said there would be some hearty debate come the June 26 ordinary meeting.

"The nine elected representatives are looking forward to setting another budget for our ratepayers," he said.

"There is always hearty debate and that is good and healthy."

Originally published as Push for extra road funds