By Alesha Capone
Wyndham council had not made any alterations to its 2021-22 budget despite receiving feedback from 79 residents during the community consultation process, according to Cr Mia Shaw.
Out of the public responses received on the draft budget, 48.6 per cent asked for an increase in infrastructure such as new community centres, indoor recreation centres and road upgrades.
Some submissions (20.9 per cent) requested an indoor sports facility in Point Cook, while 17 per cent asked for new community learning centre in Williams Landing.
More than 13 per cent of submissions focused on the need to preserve Wyndham’s natural environment and open spaces.
The budget included a record spend of $196.5 million on capital works, including $27.2 million to build new roads, $12.9 million for road reconstruction and resurfacing, $29 million for sports and recreation infrastructure and $2.02 million for playground and parks upgrades.
However, Cr Shaw made the point about a lack of modifications to the budget, after an amendment she raised did not receive support from the majority of councillors.
The amendment proposed to allocate $150,000 to start a masterplan for Soldiers Reserve, plus land and buildings on College Road, Werribee.
Cr Shaw said that Soldiers Reserve was used by 14 teams from Werribee Districts Football Club and about 24 teams from Werribee Juniors Cricket Club. St John Ambulance, Scouts and Girl Guides use the College Road buildings, she said.
Cr Shaw said there were only two change rooms at the reserve for players to use; showers which don’t drain properly; a 20 year-old oval ; no cool room; limited storage; and limited outdoor undercover seating.
Cr Shaw said it was “quite baffling” that her amendment did not pass.
“I find that actually quite amazing, considering how much we’ve actually just talked up the 79 people here that have provided feedback on the budget and there was not one change made to it – not one, not one extra dollar, not one thing taken away, nothing added on,” she said.
Out of the councillors who did not support Cr Shaw’s amendment, Cr Sahana Ramesh said there was no time to get advice from council officers about the amendment’s potential impact on the budget.
Cr Jasmine Hill said: “We have been given almost a month to raise different projects with officers and that is a process I would like to respect.”
