Brimbank sports clubs are the biggest winners out of the council’s 2018-19 budget, with a record investment being made across the municipality.
The council last week signed off on the budget after completing community consultation. It has allocated $12.18 million in total for sports facilities upgrades and enhancements – up from $8.8 million in the 2017-18 budget.
Mayor Margaret Giudice said the message from the community was loud and clear.
“This is an unprecedented investment in the health and wellbeing of our community,” Cr Giudice said.
“Council’s vision is to create a vibrant, harmonious and welcoming Brimbank which is a great place to live, work and grow – the 2018-2019 budget supports this vision.
“As a community-first council, we place a high value on listening and responding to community priorities. During our budget planning, we asked you, the community, what your priorities were for this budget – you told us and we have listened.”
Key inclusions in the revised budget are:
•$200,000 to upgrade the changerooms at Keilor Recreation Reserve to make them female-friendly;
•$950,000 for female-friendly changeroom refurbishments for JR Parsons Reserve football pavilion, John McLeod Reserve, Lionheart Reserve and Keilor Lodge Reserve; and
•$1.15 million for sports ground lighting design and construction at various soccer fields.
The budget also includes $2.5 million for a new integrated sports pavilion and three new tennis courts at Errington Reserve, St Albans.
Cr Giudice said the budget would include a $59.61 million capital works program, with family services and environmental projects among the priorities.
“We are investing heavily in community facilities – with more than $3 million allocated for upgrades to centres including two new kindergarten rooms at Alexandra Avenue Children’s Centre in Sunshine, as well as improvements to kitchens, heating and cooling, toilets and other features at community facilities across Brimbank,” she said.
“We are also committed to creating a sustainable city – with $2.2 million invested in Sustainability projects, including construction of a stormwater harvesting system at Balmoral Reserve, retrofitting council buildings to generate renewable energy, and remedial works at the Sunshine Energy Park in Albion.”
The council will expand its breastfeeding support program and introduce new learning programs at the Visy Cares Hub.
