Alice Springs Town Council releases 2024-25 draft municipal budget for comment
Residents are being invited to comment on a council’s draft budget. Don’t know how it affects you? Read on to find out and give your feedback.
Alice Springs
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Rate rises, new parks, infrastructure updates and a focus on sustainability are the focus of a Red Centre town council’s 2024-25 draft municipal budget.
The Alice Springs Town Council draft budget is now open for comment; the council inviting residents to share their thoughts before June 12.
This year’s draft budget includes a 4.7 per cent increase in rates – equating to a $1.38 increase per week on the residential rate and $1.45 on the commercial rate – for all ratepayers.
Major infrastructure works are also earmarked, with $2.2 million set aside for lights at Jim McConville Oval, $5.6 million planned for the construction of a new regional skate and play precinct and $908,000 to spent on a refresh to Araluen’s Frank McEllister community park.
The draft budget also divvies out $600,000 for facility upgrades at Paul Fitzsimons oval, while $2m will be set aside for a detailed design of a CBD regeneration project.
The regional waste facility will also get $1.09m for upgrades, including the acquisition of new plant and machinery.
The above projects do come with a caveat – the draft budget has marked them all subject to grant funding.
Upgrades to footpaths are set for a $1.1m injection, with $681,000 also planned to be put toward resealing roads.
Just over $80,000 will be spent on a greening strategy, and $200,000 has been put aside to develop a new economic plan.
The Alice Springs Tennis Association centre will be demolished, with the council setting aside $70,000 to do so, while $11,275 will be put towards refreshing the civic centre.
Mayor Matt Paterson said council had worked hard to improve liveability for residents.
“We understand that cost of living pressures have hit us all hard across the last year,” he said.
“It’s about having a balance that recognises and helps with those challenges, while still investing in our town and helping create a connection between residents.
“We have some exciting projects to look forward to in Alice Springs and we’ve also budgeted to improve and expand our municipal services.”
The council will vote to adopt the municipal draft budget at the June 25 ordinary council meeting.
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