Construction of a heated pool at the aquatic centre, planning for a global learning centre in Macedon Street and new lawn tennis club rooms are among the big-ticket items for Sunbury in Hume council’s draft 2016-17 budget.
The $218.88 million budget, which proposes an average rates increase of 2.5 per cent, was expected to be released to the public during a meeting at Sunbury Civic Centre on Monday night.
A total of $74.10 million has been slated for new infrastructure across the municipality, including more carparking at Boardman Reserve and additional improvements to Sunbury’s town centre.
Money to widen sections of Wildwood Road in Wildwood and an upgrade of Bourke Street, Bulla, are part of a $10.24 million allocation for roads projects.
Mayor Helen Patsikatheodorou said it was the most ambitious capital works program launched during her eight years on the council.
“We want to deliver facilities and services as [the community] needs it, not 50 years down the track,’’ she said. ‘‘Our decision to pay back almost $26 million of debt early will reap huge rewards for our community, as council saves $5.5 million in net interest across 10 years.
‘‘This is the Hume story for 2016-17 – huge investments in services and community facilities, combined with a low rates increase, a budget in surplus and virtually no debt.’’
Cr Patsikatheodorou said the average household would pay about $45 extra in rates this year. But as this is a revaluation year, the degree of change will vary.
‘‘Council has been very prudent … we’ve implemented a number of savings measures that help us to deliver services and infrastructure in an efficient manner,’’ she said.
Chief executive Domenic Isola said increases to state government growth and infrastructure spending in Hume had made meeting the new rate rise cap much easier.
“When we are getting funding to assist the council, that helps alleviate the rate burden on the community,’’ he said. “[The rate rise cap] makes us think more about what we are providing and how we provide it.
‘‘I’m not a proponent of [the rates cap]. [But] I think this council would have got to that rate anyway.”
– with Laura Michell
