By GARRY HOWE
A BID by maverick councillor Collin Ross to limit any rate increase to CPI plus 1 per cent has been labelled unworkable and irresponsible by his council colleagues and staff.
A draft budget tabled at a special council meeting on Monday night proposed a rate increase of 5.9 per cent – down on the 6.8 per cent rise last year – and allows for almost $21 million to be spent on new recreation facilities, road and footpath construction and maintenance.
It was argued that the rate increase was a responsible step for a council grappling with the infrastructure and service needs of a growth area.
Big ticket items include:
– Officer Secondary College stadium ($1.65 million);
– Continued development of the regional soccer facility at IYU Recreation Reserve in Henry Road, Pakenham ($1 million);
– Further works on Lang Lang Bypass and Holm Park Recreation Reserve, Beaconsfield ($500,000 each);
– A shared footpath along Princes Highway ($500,000).
– New footpaths ($400,000).
Streets in Kooweerup, Upper Beaconsfield and Pakenham will also be sealed in special charge scheme partnerships with local residents.
Cr Ross said he could not support the draft budget because the proposed rate increase was excessive.
He said many residents and businesses were struggling with cost of living pressures and called for cuts of more than $1 million in spending.
Cr George Blenkhorn warned that if the bid by Cr Ross was successful, the community grants rollout, which he described as one of the council’s best programs, would have to reduce; the Lang Lang bypass would be delayed; Catani Recreation Reserve would not get its lights this year and Officer Secondary College stadium would be delayed.
“This does affect the whole community,” he said.
He said this budget continued the responsible path taken over the six years he had been on the council.
Cr Kate Lempriere said a lot of “blood, sweat and tears” had gone into the process and at the end they had come up with a very responsible budget for a growth corridor council.
“We have a baby born every six hours and have new street rolled out to be developed almost weekly,” she said.
“We have a social responsibility to deliver a responsible budget and we have done so.
“I think it addresses the needs of the community.”
Cr Brett Owen said he was aware of the difficult job Cardinia had as being part of the growth corridor.
“Inner city councils might collect a bit of rubbish and operate a kindergarten or two,” he said.
“We have to provide infrastructure for a growing population. We have to prepare for the future and look after residents now.
“Everything in this budget is necessary and important.”
Cr Tania Baxter described the budget process as being “on a fast moving train with many drivers and navigators with a steering wheel in one hand and GPS in the other”.
“There are elements to it I like and elements I don’t like.”
Cr Baxter said the shire had so many demands on it that a 5.9 per cent increase was required.
After seeking clarification from corporate services manager Derek Madden, she argued that while a CPI figure may be useful to gauge a household budget, it was not relevant for a council, especially one in a growth corridor.
Mayor Graeme Moore said the draft 2014-15 budget sought to deliver value for Cardinia shire residents.
“Our aim is to balance deliver the infrastructure and services that our communities need while also recognising that many people are doing it tough and that careful financial management is crucial,” he said.
The council will also invest $14.45 million into renewing and upgrading roads, bridges and footpaths, replacing drainage and improving recreation reserves and sporting facilities.
Cr Blenkhorn said that, as it was a revaluation year, 36 per cent of people would experience a reduction in their rates.
That means, conversely, that 64 per cent of ratepayers would probably have an increase.
