Goulburn Mulwaree Council includes new projects in budget

The projects total about $59 million and there's more to come with Towrang Bridge's expected completion mid-year, at an $8m cost.

Acting Goulburn Mulwaree Council general manager Brendan Hollands said it had been a big few years of construction but now it was time to "consolidate."

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"We have a few major projects (in the 2022/23 budget) but we're getting to a stage where we need to focus on roads and the core things and bringing them back to standard rather than looking at huge new builds," he said.

This was especially important given "significant rises" in asset depreciation costs in the last four to five years. Next financial year, depreciation and impairment costs are forecast to be $22.6 million. Mr Hollands said the council's ability to fund this lay at the core of its financial sustainability.

He was speaking ahead of the 2022/23 draft budget and four-year delivery plan's public exhibition.

The budget details a $1.89m net operational cost for the aquatic centre and $600,164 for the performing arts venue.

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The document also sets out $53.9m in capital works over the next year, with a major focus on sport and recreation facilities. They include:

"I think some of the pavilions need upgrading," Mr Hollands said.

"We've seen the difference the Seiffert Oval pavilion has made and the hockey facilities had reached a stage where they needed some tender loving care and an upgrade to attract carnivals into town. We need to be able to attract those competitions and bring money into town...The members also deserve good changerooms."

The council has tapped into sports grant funding for several projects.

The budget proposes $4m in loans for the Carr Confoy pavilion. Grant applications of $4m each have been lodged with the state and federal governments. If only one is secured, the council will match it but Mr Hollands says the project may not go ahead if no grant money is forthcoming.

Other major projects include:

A total $17m will be spent on rural roads, with a strong focus on Jerrara and Windellama Roads. The Mayfield Road bridge near Tarago, which frequently floods, will be replaced, depending on $2.28m in grants.

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Meantime, $8m is allocated to Goulburn's roads, including $376,860 in blackspot grant funding for a roundabout at the Albert/Kinghorne Street intersection, a $1.97m grant for Deccan Street's rehabilitation and $840,000 for drainage improvements at Bradley Street and Garroorigang Road.

Mr Hollands said given the plethora of road grants available, the council would be "mad" not to take advantage of them.

The budget sets out $88.2m in revenue and $105.8m in expenses. When capital grants are thrown in, the council forecasts a $37,010,993 surplus in 2022/23.

Sewer availability and usage charges are proposed to rise by 1.5pc, water use and availability by three per cent and domestic waste by two per cent to $402 per property. The rural waste fee will rise by $6 (4pc) on this year's charge.

Commercial waste collection fees will also increase by 4 to 6pc and tipping charges by five per cent.

Mr Hollands said the rises would in part fund the new Re-use Goulburn facility but the council had to be mindful the tip had a finite life.

"It will need to be regenerated eventually and we need to look at how we'll do it," he said.

Earlier this year, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) set a 0.7pc rate peg for Goulburn Mulwaree Council. The council has challenged this and applied for a 2.5pc special rate variation, arguing a 0.7pc increase in rate revenue would not meet rising costs. A decision is expected in June.

If granted, the 2.5pc will mean an extra $24 to $31 for residential and rural residential ratepayers and $51 more for those on farmland. Mr Hollands said this was more in line with the standard increase.

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In the meantime, the two sets of rates - 0.7pc and 2.5pc - will be publicly exhibited.

Mr Hollands said the council was in a comfortable position but the focus had to turn to consolidation and stresses on the road network from successive flooding. The total debt stands at $38.3m.

The budget and delivery plan will be placed on public exhibition from May 4 to June 2. Submissions are invited.

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