Zoe Moffatt
Macedon Ranges council has adopted its 2023-24 budget, with an average rate increase of 3.5 per cent and an increase in funding for local sporting clubs.
Council voted to adopt the amended budget at its meeting on Wednesday, June 28, following a plea for more money from some local organisations in early June.
The new initiatives provide funding to improve sporting facilities at clubs, including the Macedon Tennis Club and Kyneton Tennis Club, while continuing design work for the Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct.
Macedon Tennis Club grants co-manager and committee member Angela Dridan said the funding is fantastic as it is important for community safety.
She said the $80,000 from the council will allow the club to re-fence courts one, two, three and four, which were the most dangerous.
“It’s fanatics, we’re relieved and delighted,” Ms Dridan said.
“We’ve been working really hard for the last 12 months to secure funding to make the fences safe for the community … [and] we’ve had a lot of support which we’ve been very grateful for as well.
“Safety for the community is really important to us and they were getting to a point where they were no longer safe.
Other capital works projects to receive funding include Romsey Skate Park, Willowbank Open Space, Kyneton Cricket Club, South Gisborne Tennis Club, and Goldfields Regional Library, Gisborne.
Council also committed $10.3 million to roads and $1.2 million for footpath and cycleway improvements.
Councillor Janet Pearce spoke in favour of the budget and said she understands it is disappointing all projects cannot get funding but the budget needs to be realistic.
“I understand it is disappointing … we would love to be able to fund [more] projects but that’s a part of it,” Cr Pearce.
“[It includes] analysing it all and making sure we’ve got all the data, making sure it’s realistic, making sure that we are also dividing it up around the shire as well.”
Cr Geoff Neil spoke against the budget and said he believes council has not gone far enough to support our community at a time they need it most.
