Melbourne City Council criticised for ‘ludicrous’ amount spent on computers

The priorities of Melbourne City Council have been brought into question after it was revealed it was spending as much on computer upgrades as it did on roads, footpaths and bike paths.

Melbourne City Council is spending as much on upgrades for computers as it is on maintaining roads, footpaths and bike paths.

The spend has raised questions about the council’s priorities.

The head of Ratepayers Victoria branded it “ludicrous”.

The council’s annual report — released last week — reveals it allocated $15.1 million for computers and telecommunications last financial year.

The combined spend for maintaining roads, footpaths and cycleways was $15.7 million.

Ratepayers Victoria president Dean Hurlston called for Melbourne City Council to show greater transparency on how it was spending money.

“Of course we believe that council needs adequate resources to do their job,’’ he said.

“But we would question large capital expenditure like that and say: ‘What is the benefit to the ratepayer?’”

Mr Hurlston said there were footpaths and streets in the city which desperately needed upgrades.

Melbourne City Council is spending more on c Picture: Jake Nowakowski

He was concerned councils were not doing enough to address issues that mattered most to ratepayers.

“What we’re seeing across all councils, particularly metropolitan councils who are flush with bigger budgets, is a lot of spending directed at the council themselves and not directed back at services like roads, rubbish, footpaths and streetscape,’’ Mr Hurlston said.

“People don’t pay their rates to fatten the resources and facilities of the council.

“The biggest challenge ratepayers come across is councils are forever making these beautiful, shiny office buildings with the latest and greatest technology while footpaths are neglected.”

A Melbourne City Council spokeswoman said the $15.1 million spent on technology was invested in “maintenance to our existing software as well as necessary hardware and technology upgrades”.

“In the digital age, we need to provide the online services our customers demand,” she said.

“The upgrades have helped us to deliver reliable and efficient digital services, improve staff efficiency, and enhance our open data.”

The spokeswoman said last financial year the council spent a combined $19.5 million on general maintenance of roads, footpaths, bridges and drains and $78.4 million on infrastructure capital works.

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The level of community satisfaction with the council’s performance on the condition of sealed local roads was above the statewide average, she said.

The annual report showed a $7.3 million spend for maintenance of footpaths and cycleways and $8.4 million on road maintenance as part of a total $122 million on capital works.

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