Cade Lucas
Wyndham council will seek the support of Victoria’s peak local government body to help restore funding for infrastructure and events that were cut in the recent state budget.
In its 2024-25 budget, the state government scrapped the Suburban Revitalisation Board and cut the Growing Suburbs Fund, both of which provided money for infrastructure and community events in Wyndham and other municipalities.
Last week Wyndham council voted to present a motion at the state council meeting of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) on August 23, demanding it lobby the government for more funding and investment in local government initiatives.
MAV represents all Victoria councils and motions adopted at its state council meeting become resolutions.
In moving the motion at the June 25 meeting, councillor Sahana Ramesh said the recent 2051 housing target was an example of the state government calling on council’s to do more, while at the same time cutting their funding.
“This motion calls for dedicated funding for suburbs and growth regions. We need adequate funding from other tiers of government to ensure the services and infrastructure are in place to ensure that these communities are liveable.”
Deputy mayor Josh Gilligan said the government’s funding cuts wouldn’t just affect infrastructure, but community and social events as well.
“The state government have cut funding for the Tarneit Business Association. They have cut funding for the Firefly (night market) event which is one of the most popular events in this city,” Cr Gilligan said.
“This strikes at the very heart of social cohesion.”
Cr Robert Szatkowski supported the motion, but pointed out that it wouldn’t change the core problem of council’s relying too much on the state government for funding.
He said local governments needed to be able to develop their own funding sources.
The motion passed the day before a parliamentary inquiry into local government funding began at state parliament.
In its submission to the inquiry, the MAV called for councils to be better funded for functions they complete on behalf of other levels of government and for better revenue streams through a combination of grant funding, cost recovery, and value capture.
MAV also want the government to adopt a more flexible, multi-year approach to rate caps by imposing them over four years rather than one.
The state government was contacted for comment.
