By Alesha Capone
Wyndham council is proposing to spend $103.8 million on capital works as part of it proposed 2020-21 budget, with big-ticket items including upgraded roads, new cells at Werribee tip and repairs to Eagle Stadium’s roof.
The council’s budgeted operating surplus is proposed to be $157.3 million, with its underlying result before depreciation and amortisation amounting to $59.5 million.
However, taking depreciation and amortisation into account results in a budget deficit of $50.3 million.
Despite this, Wyndham mayor Josh Gilligan said the operating surplus showed the council remained in a “robust financial position”.
At a meeting last Tuesday, several councillors said the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted upon the budget, with a decrease in revenue from sports facilities and other sources since March.
Councillors said it was important to balance the needs of the growing municipality with a “balanced approach” to the pandemic.
Cr Gilligan said the council was planning to spend $11.75 million to reconstruct and resurface roads.
“We know that Tarneit Road is often gridlocked, so we’re putting forward $1 million to duplicate Tarneit Road between Sayers and Leakes Roads, building on the duplication works already done on this stretch,” he said.
The council has allocated $1 million for widening roads in Little River and $1.5 million to upgrade the Boundary Round and Derrimut Road intersection.
The budget proposes to spend $9 million on the design and construction of cell six at the Werribee tip, and $4 million for the construction of cell seven.
An additional $4 million has been allocated for rectification works at Eagle Stadium’s roof, which for years has been leaking on days of heavy rainfall.
“We will go after the parties that are responsible for this defect and we will recoup the cost, of what we can, to ratepayers,” Cr Gilligan said.
The council is also proposing to spend $10.2 million to construct two new children’s centres at Truganina and Tarneit North; $4.8 million on the construction of Riverdale Community Centre, Tarneit; $3.5 million on new soccer facilities at Galvin Park; $1.5 million on the K Road Cliffs Masterplan implementation; and $950,000 for a new car park, pavilion and landscaping at Bensonhurst Parade Reserve.
The budget includes the previously announced $5 million WynLocal Economic Support package, including $1.5 million in business support grants for local traders, as they emerge from the pandemic.
The budget proposes setting the mayor’s annual allowance at $100,434 and councillor allowances at $31,444 per annum.
To provide feedback on the proposed budget, visit theloop.wyndham.vic.gov.au/budget before 5pm on Tuesday, July 21.
