The Borough of Queenscliffe council has opened submissions on its 2022/23 draft budget, which includes allocations of $350,000 for improvement works for public toilets and more than $60,000 towards energy efficiency capital works and audit programs.
The council endorsed the draft budget at its meeting on Wednesday, April 27.
The budget highlighted that the council has no loans and a financial plan which does not rely on borrowing in order to ensure the council remains debt-free.
Under the budget, the council would implement at 1.75 per cent increase, which would create $119,000 of additional income towards the total rates income of $6,922,000.
The budget included an operating budget of $12.5 million and a capital works program of $3.8 million to provide new infrastructure and improve roads and facilities, including $250,000 for a new toilet on Hobson Street, $40,000 for a new fence at Narrows Beach and $15,000 towards drainage upgrades on Edgewater Close.
The council also outlined $40,000 would be allocated to help the council and the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners develop a Reconciliation Action Plan and install new Wadawurrung historical signage.
Queenscliffe mayor Ross Ebbels said the budget included a number of features which highlighted investment in the key priorities of the Council Plan.
“From supporting community wellbeing to protecting our environment and promoting the borough’s rich heritage, this is a budget that delivers on some of the key initiatives residents told us matter to them,” he said.
“I want to thank everyone in our community who took part in consultation to develop the council plan.
“Your ideas and advice have helped us create a budget that reflects your priorities.”
The council also approved its 2022/23 draft financial plan, which detailed a surplus of $158,000 in the 2022/23 financial year and the highest projected surplus in the 2025/26 financial year of $1.49 million before breaking even in the 2028/29 financial year.
The council will be holding a draft budget presentation at 6.30pm on Wednesday, May 11 in the Queenscliff Town Hall.
Submissions on the draft budget will close at 4pm on Monday, May 23.
Details: queenscliffe.vic.gov.au/budget
