Melton council has allocated $3 million to duplicate a notorious Taylors Hill road that has been plagued with “chronic traffic problems” as part of its 2017-18 draft budget.
Hume Drive will be duplicated between Calder Park Drive and Overton Lea Boulevard, with construction expected to start in the next financial year. Traffic lights will also be installed at the Hume Drive and Overton Lea Boulevard intersection.
The Taylors Hill area was a big winner in the budget, with a further $10 million for the construction of sports ovals, pavilions and courts in the new Taylors Hill West suburb.
As well, the council has put aside $3.67 million for a streetscape upgrade in Melton township as part of the Pride of Melton project and the construction of a bridge at Westwood Drive over the Kororoit Creek, expected to cost $2 million.
Melton council engineering services manager Charles Cornish said the Hume Drive roadworks would be funded by Melton and Brimbank councils, with the latter responsible for funding the duplication between Overton Lea Boulevard and the existing duplicated road about 200 metres to the east.
The duplication will be one of dozens of Melton infrastructure works budgeted for the next financial year, with the council announcing it will spend $52 million on its capital works program.
Melton council has also budgeted $500,000 to upgrade female changerooms across the municipality and $1.085 million to replace footpaths not in ideal condition. The council will spend $100,000 on a roundabout at the southern entrance of City Vista Drive, Plumpton.
Rate rises will be capped at two per cent this year in line with the state government-imposed limit, with the council expected to take in $104 million in rates – up 5.78 per cent from the previous year.
The council says it will raise $7.65 million in municipal charges, up 6.6 per cent from the previous year. Pensioners will be eligible for a $70 rebate on their rates.
“Despite the rate-capping restriction, the council is in a good financial position largely due to containing cost increases,” a report presented at last week’s council meeting states.
“In addition, the council has also been successful in attracting state and federal funding from the Interface Growth Fund and the Roads to Recovery Fund.
“The favourable financial position has resulted in council being able to deliver capital works of $52.1 million and loan repayments of $3.4 million, without additional borrowing.”
In its 2017-18 capital works program, Melton council will spend $19 million on leisure and community facilities, $15.7 million on road infrastructure, $5.4 million on community buildings, $4.6 million on bridge works, $1.3 million for footpaths and bike paths and $4.1 million for a range of other projects.
The draft budget is out for public consultation until May 3. The final budget is to be adopted at the June council meeting. Details: melton.vic.gov.au/Council/Join-the-conversation/Proposed-adoption-of-201718-Budget
