Keilor is one of the big winners in Brimbank council’s draft annual budget, with $3 million allocated to two projects in the village area.
The council is yet to reveal where more than $6 million in savings will be found in the budget, but it is planning to spend $800,000 on Keilor Village shopping precinct upgrades and $2.2 million on a new community hub.
The council said $6.5 million in “additional economies” would need to be found in its 2016-17 budget in response to a new cap on rate rises, with savings expected to be found through “changes to some programs and events”.
“Finding the additional savings has been a very difficult task,” a council report stated.
Council corporate and community relations director Helen Morrissey said further details would be released this week.
2.5 per cent rates rise
The draft budget includes a rates rise of 2.5 per cent on average, the council deciding against pursuing an increase beyond the state government-imposed limit.
The council estimates it will have a surplus of $8.6 million, which will be spent on capital works.
Capital works spending will be reduced by almost 40 per cent, to $57.3 million, compared with nearly $92 million in 2015-16 which included money for the “once in a generation” community and civic centre.
The council plans to spend $2.1 million on new sports facilities, with $1.2 million set aside for the development of a soccer pavilion at Ardeer Reserve and $350,000 for the reconstruction of two tennis courts at the Delahey Tennis Club. Keilor Village shopping precinct improvements will include upgraded pavements, street furniture and cycling paths and landscaping.
Residents had wanted the Old Calder Highway reduced to two lanes in the main shopping precinct to allow for more car parking but VicRoads knocked back the proposal.
Other big-ticket items include $500,000 for the Sunvale Community Park and $400,000 on the final stage of the Taylors Creek Recreational Trail.
There is an allocation of $50,000 for skating facilities.
Another $2.2 million has been allocated to transform the old municipal offices into the Keilor community hub. The council will spend $800,000 on new books for library facilities at the hub and the community and civic centre in Sunshine.
Keilor Historical Society president Susan Jennison said she was disappointed public consultation had not changed any aspects of the council’s vision document for the area.
“There seems to be no attention to heritage issues either,” she said.
“The pavements will be upgraded which is great, but it’s 15 years overdue.”
Residents can provide a written submission about the draft budget by June 7 when a submissions committee meeting will be held at Sunshine council offices. The meeting is open to the public.
