City of Ballarat releases draft 2022/23 budget for consultation

Council’s top priority in the budget was creating an environmentally-sustainable future for Ballarat. See the detail here.

The council’s draft budget will go out for community consultation for 30 days before adoption in June.

The City of Ballarat presented a draft 2022/23 budget at its council meeting on Wednesday evening, which outlined $127.3 million of capital works, including $6.4 million on sustainability projects.

The council’s top priority in the budget, as determined by consultation with Ballarat residents in November 2021, was creating an environmentally-sustainable future for the city.

Projects in pursuit of that goal include doubling the tree canopy across the city by 2040, constructing a recycling centre, installing solar panels at council buildings, and completing a feasibility study into a litter trap for the Yarrowee River.

Broad highlights of the draft budget include:

– $19.3 million over four years for major community infrastructure, including the Alfredton Community Hub, Sebastopol Community Hub, Royal Park Buninyong, and Eastwood Community Hub

– $14.7 million for road repairs

– $4.4 million for council vehicle fleet and equipment renewal

– $3.84 million for upgrades to council-owned buildings

– $2.3 million for landfill

– $1.95 million for the Bakery Hill Precinct Upgrade

– $2.1 million for drainage works

– $800,000 for footpaths and cycleways

– $700,000 for the Doug Dean upgrade

With government grants, the council will also complete more road and airport upgrades, the third stage of Her Majesty’s Theatre restorative works, the Wendouree Community Recreation precinct, Art Gallery of Ballarat skylight upgrades, and partially finance the Pleasant Street Soccer Pitch renewal.

It will borrow a further $12.75 million for the Bakery Hill Urban Renewal Project, the Ballarat Airport Upgrade, the Ballarat Central Library Redevelopment, and more.

Rates will increase 1.75 per cent in line with the state government’s cap, a decision mayor Daniel Moloney said was “not taken lightly, but it allows us to partially cover the increases in costs Council experiences in continuing to deliver the critical infrastructure and services needed to support our growing community”.

The green waste charge will remain unchanged and the general waste charge will rise to meet the state government’s landfill levy on the council.

Given the elections occurring this year, Cr Moloney said he did not expect to get everything on the council’s wishlist in regard to state and federal government funding, but the council, he said, would nonetheless be making “a pretty strong case”.

“Nothing we’ll be making a bid for to the federal or the state election periods is uncosted,” he said.

“It’s all detailed, thorough, strategic, and makes sense in my view for a growing city.

“None of these things are pie in the sky; they’re the type of projects that really do need to be delivered at some point over the next few years, just to make sure that Ballarat people are not stuck in traffic, they’ve got the schools that they need to have a good sustainable education, that there’s programs to look after the environment, and that there are ultimately the jobs and opportunities for people in this incredible growing city.”

The budget also forecasts the City of Ballarat would need a 2.3 per cent increase in its workforce – from 798.19 full-time equivalents to 816.52 – to keep services running at pace with the city’s growing population.

The council’s projected income for 2022/23 is $269.7 million and its expenditure $210.4 million.

The draft budget will go out for community consultation for 30 days before adoption in June.