Palmerston council release draft 2023-24 budget, rates rise
Rates will be bumped up while millions will be spent on roads, paths and greening Palmerston in the council’s proposed new budget. Read a list of the highlights.
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Palmerston ratepayers will fork out an extra $86 each year if the council’s draft budget is endorsed.
Residential homes will be hit with a 4.3 per cent rate rise, while commercial property owners will pay an extra 4.9 per cent.
Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell last week took aim at the Darwin council’s proposed changes to waste disposal in the region’s only licenced tip.
However her council’s overall rates bump up is notably lower than Darwin’s, which is set to be $111 more per year.
“While I understand that any rate increase may cause concern, it is important to note that these increases are necessary to ensure that our city continues to thrive towards our vision of achieving a place for people,” she said.
“We will continue to minimise costs to the community that are within our control.”
The satellite city’s $19.4m SWELL pool redevelopment is the jewel in the crown of the council’s 2023-24 financial plan.
Touted as the most significant project in Palmerston to date, the facility’s 50m pool, therapy pool and toddler’s play pool are on track to open by November this year.
The leisure centre will also include a half-basketball court, obstacle course, cafe and events area, complementing the site’s existing gym.
A $7.85m capital works program has also been mapped out to improve the city’s roads, playgrounds, paths and lighting, while Zuccoli will get a skate park and pump track next to its soon-to-open dog park.
More than $600,000 will be spent on planting trees, while paths and laneways will get $1m and roads will get $1.74m.
Ms Pascoe-Bell said keeping residents safe was also a key priority in her council’s municipal plan.
“We have several initiatives that work towards this, including security patrols in partnership with the Northern Territory government, new animal management by-laws and management of laneways,” she said.
Feedback on Palmerston City council’s draft budget closes on June 1.
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