The Budget (2 September 2005)
Shire President, Kevin Douglas said this year's budget process was time consuming and while not possible to satisfy every need, staff and councillors are to be congratulated on the final outcome.
Shire CEO, Andrew Macnish agreed and explained that the budget process this year has highlighted the need for a strategic assessment in order to couch future budgets. This requires a 5 year financial plan and a strategic (functions/services) plan whereby the notion of sustainability in implementing the Shires core services can be appropriately financed. This will also help give a measure of certainty regarding any future rate increases.
With the adoption of the budget the Shire has released its Works Programme for the 2005/6 financial year (a copy of the programme can be viewed at the Shire's Customer Service Centre). The Shire has an ongoing maintenance programme that includes upkeep of 200 Shire buildings and facilities, care of over 100 reserves, maintenance of 750kms of sealed roads and 317 km of unsealed roads, 11 boat ramps and three cemeteries.
Within the program the community will see $4.03M worth of road upgrades, with Black Spot funding targeting Kaloorup Road, Moses Rock Road, Metricup Road, Hester Street, Naturaliste Terrace, Yallingup Beach Road, Forrest Beach Road, Dunn Bay Road and Tuart Drive. They will also be able to walk along an extra 3km of footpaths, Mr Macnish said.
Waste management is a priority this year with recycling undertaking a major tender to mulch and reuse approximately 26,500 cubic metres of accumulated green waste at the land fill sites.
Already underway is the construction of the Dunsborough Change Rooms and lights for the Dunsborough Playing Fields to the value of $634K and our Public Library users will see the construction of a Special Collections Facility at the Busselton Library. This will house the local history collection and public access points to the internet and on-line databases.
Council has allocated $50,000 towards the commencement of the Shire's Town Planning Scheme review, as required under legislation. The funding will be used to commence the preparation of various land use strategies required to guide the review process. This represents the start of a process likely to take up to 5 years and requires an overall project budget in the order of $300,000.
This year will see the appointment of a Compliance Office in the statutory planning areas. With an annual increase of over 10% in the number of planning consents and building licences issued each year there is a need for an increase in the level of compliance monitoring and ability to respond to complaints which this additional resource is designed to meet.
The budget has also responded to the increased severity of Ross River Virus outbreaks over recent summers with the inclusion of over $45,000 to undertake a targeted mosquito control. The program will only commence after a comprehensive community information process is completed.
With the value of building licences issued approaching $200 Million, made up of 1707 individual licences in the 2004/05 year, and projected to continue to increase at over 10% into 05/06, the Shire has allocated funding to provide for the employment of an additional Building surveyor. This initiative is designed to provide the additional capacity to ensure that the current high level of service is maintained and costs to the development industry and community through any delays in works approvals continue to be minimal.
$38,500 will be injected into the Busselton Youth Initiative which will see local youth trained in event management along with the opportunity to participate in mentoring and leadership programs.
$150,000 will enable ArtGeo, situated at the Old Court House Complex, to continue to address its current and future operations on behalf of the Shire, contributing significantly to the Shire's developing Cultural Plan.
The Shire will once again partner with the community and event organizers to stage the 2005 Ironman Western Australia Triathlon by committing $131,000 to this event.
Other projects due to benefit from the budget include:
$21,000 for the Busselton Youth Care Chaplaincy Fund
$80,000 for Busselton Marine Volunteer Rescue
$20,000 for the Busselton Business enterprise Centre
$25,000 for the design of a new Busselton Beachfront toilet block
$5,000 for Mitchell Park Works
$10,000 for implementation of the Shire's Leisure Services Plan
End.
For further information in relation to this press release please contact the Communications Co-ordinator, Julie Rawlings on 97810446.
2nd September, 2005
Shire CEO, Andrew Macnish agreed and explained that the budget process this year has highlighted the need for a strategic assessment in order to couch future budgets. This requires a 5 year financial plan and a strategic (functions/services) plan whereby the notion of sustainability in implementing the Shires core services can be appropriately financed. This will also help give a measure of certainty regarding any future rate increases.
With the adoption of the budget the Shire has released its Works Programme for the 2005/6 financial year (a copy of the programme can be viewed at the Shire's Customer Service Centre). The Shire has an ongoing maintenance programme that includes upkeep of 200 Shire buildings and facilities, care of over 100 reserves, maintenance of 750kms of sealed roads and 317 km of unsealed roads, 11 boat ramps and three cemeteries.
Within the program the community will see $4.03M worth of road upgrades, with Black Spot funding targeting Kaloorup Road, Moses Rock Road, Metricup Road, Hester Street, Naturaliste Terrace, Yallingup Beach Road, Forrest Beach Road, Dunn Bay Road and Tuart Drive. They will also be able to walk along an extra 3km of footpaths, Mr Macnish said.
Waste management is a priority this year with recycling undertaking a major tender to mulch and reuse approximately 26,500 cubic metres of accumulated green waste at the land fill sites.
Already underway is the construction of the Dunsborough Change Rooms and lights for the Dunsborough Playing Fields to the value of $634K and our Public Library users will see the construction of a Special Collections Facility at the Busselton Library. This will house the local history collection and public access points to the internet and on-line databases.
Council has allocated $50,000 towards the commencement of the Shire's Town Planning Scheme review, as required under legislation. The funding will be used to commence the preparation of various land use strategies required to guide the review process. This represents the start of a process likely to take up to 5 years and requires an overall project budget in the order of $300,000.
This year will see the appointment of a Compliance Office in the statutory planning areas. With an annual increase of over 10% in the number of planning consents and building licences issued each year there is a need for an increase in the level of compliance monitoring and ability to respond to complaints which this additional resource is designed to meet.
The budget has also responded to the increased severity of Ross River Virus outbreaks over recent summers with the inclusion of over $45,000 to undertake a targeted mosquito control. The program will only commence after a comprehensive community information process is completed.
With the value of building licences issued approaching $200 Million, made up of 1707 individual licences in the 2004/05 year, and projected to continue to increase at over 10% into 05/06, the Shire has allocated funding to provide for the employment of an additional Building surveyor. This initiative is designed to provide the additional capacity to ensure that the current high level of service is maintained and costs to the development industry and community through any delays in works approvals continue to be minimal.
$38,500 will be injected into the Busselton Youth Initiative which will see local youth trained in event management along with the opportunity to participate in mentoring and leadership programs.
$150,000 will enable ArtGeo, situated at the Old Court House Complex, to continue to address its current and future operations on behalf of the Shire, contributing significantly to the Shire's developing Cultural Plan.
The Shire will once again partner with the community and event organizers to stage the 2005 Ironman Western Australia Triathlon by committing $131,000 to this event.
Other projects due to benefit from the budget include:
$21,000 for the Busselton Youth Care Chaplaincy Fund
$80,000 for Busselton Marine Volunteer Rescue
$20,000 for the Busselton Business enterprise Centre
$25,000 for the design of a new Busselton Beachfront toilet block
$5,000 for Mitchell Park Works
$10,000 for implementation of the Shire's Leisure Services Plan
End.
For further information in relation to this press release please contact the Communications Co-ordinator, Julie Rawlings on 97810446.
2nd September, 2005