Roads Big Winners In Murrumbidgee Council’s Draft Budget

The community expects roads to be a priority when it comes to Council expenditure and Murrumbidgee Council’s draft budget for 2023/2024 key priorities include roads and capital projects.

Murrumbidgee Council Mayor, Ruth McRae said Council planned to deliver more than $7.2 million in road repairs and maintenance during the coming financial year, with almost half of rates income dedicated to the road network.

Mayor McRae said there was also a further $11.4 million of capital works planned, including $4.2 million on the development of the Young Street subdivision in Darlington Point.

“As a small rural Council, we are highly dependent on grant funding,” Mayor Mc Rae said.

“For the 2023-2024 financial year, we will utilise $18 million of funding from grants and contributions to deliver our services.

“Responsible and sustainable fiscal management while achieving the best outcomes for the community is, as always, ourkey criteria in developing the budget.”

The draft 2023-2024 Operational Plan and Budget are currently on public display.

Included in the plan are Council’s proposed rates, charges and fees for the 2024 financial year.

Mayor McRae said Council hoped to get lots of feedback from the community oon the draft budget as it was really important the community was closely involved in shaping the future of each of Murrumbidgee’s towns.

Key highlights include:

• A roads program in excess of $7.2M (excluding state roads) that maximises the funding opportunities to available to Council, with more work predicted over the coming years;
• Upgrades to sporting grounds - including electrical upgrades at Monash Park, the completion of civil works at Coleambally Sports Precinct, the continuation of works at No. 1 Oval in Coleambally, and completion of the Monash Park Netball Precinct Upgrade;
• The introduction of FOGO (organics) and recycling services across the whole LGA;
• Improvements to public conveniences, with the installation of a lift and change public toilet in Jerilderie and refurbishment of the CWA Park and Bridge Street public toilets in Darlington Point;
• Swimming pool improvements across the LGA, including CCTV installation at Coleambally and Darlington Point, a dosing plant and solar heating at Darlington Point, the tiling of Coleambally Swimming Pool, and the purchase of solar blankets for Jerilderie.
• The development of the Young Street subdivision in Darlington Point, with the additional aim to secure grant funding to construct residential housing on some lots;
• Continued advocacy for the finalisation of the Integrated Water Cycle Management Plan Options Report and the associated works, which will be completed as soon as possible subject to the concurrence of the appropriate authorities;
• The finalisation of works at Brolga Place in Coleambally;
• The provision of traineeships to young people in our communities;
• Investigating options to generate revenue from novel sources and improve Council’s sustainability into the future;
• The introduction of a Heritage Advisory Service & Local Heritage Works Assistance Fund to run for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years;
• The first phase of the Council’s Housing Replacement Strategy to replace our residential real estate portfolio;
• Investment in the Council’s efficient, best-practice, and future-proof operations, with the continued installation of telemetric equipment in plant and fleet items, an upgrade of our Enterprise Management System, and digitalisation of manual processes in line with auditor recommendations; and
• Continued delivery of the Council’s many day-to-day services, including public halls, parks and gardens, infrastructure maintenance, sewerage, water supply, and sporting grounds maintenance.

More information is available on Council’s website.

Comments will be accepted until Monday, June 26.

• Topics:

• Local Council
• Road Safety
• Public Works
• Finance
• Community Feedback