Budget winners

By Tania Martin
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges has announced its biggest ever capital works program, with more than $27.2 million to be spent on infrastructure as a part of the 2006-07 draft budget.
However, rising petrol prices and a $150,000 increase in insurance premiums has led to a seven per cent rate rise.
Shire chief executive officer, Rob Hauser, said the council’s insurance premiums had increased from $1.24 million in 2005-06 to $ 1.4 million in 2006-07.
Mr Hauser said a continued shift of responsibilities on the council had also contributed to the rate rise.
He said one of the latest shifts include the additional burden of the council having to clear trees from power lines.
Mr Hauser said this job was previously undertaken by the electricity companies, and that council is also now responsible for fire hydrant inspections.
He said the rise was one of many issues facing the council’s draft budget, including a reduction in Victorian Grants Commission funding, higher waste disposal costs as a result of an increase in the landfill levy, and additional cost due to an increase in the amount of rubbish illegally dumped along roadsides and in bushland reserves.
Shire manager of community relations, James Martin, said the rate rise would increase the average household rates by $65 a year or $1.25 per week.
Mr Martin said an average rate bill will jump from $1008 to $1073 per year.
But Mr Hauser said the seven per cent rate increase was reasonable considering the increase in petrol and insurance premiums and added shire responsibilities.
“Despite all of these new financial pressures, we have still been able to deliver a budget that has something for everyone, while at the same time keeping the average rate increase to a reasonable level of seven per cent,” he said.
Meanwhile, Monbulk will receive a boost with $350,000 allocated for the town’s community centre project.
Chandler Ward councillor Graham Warren said the funding was good news for the project, as community hubs are the way forward for the future.
He said the council was also seeking state and federal funding for the project.
Cr Warren said the funding would enable the project to take the next step and undertake more consultation with the community.
Project committee member, Ray Yates, said the funding was a great boost as the Monbulk community hub would be setting Australia-wide standards.
“We have already had a consultant say that Monbulk has something unique that a lot of other community centres don’t have, which is that the centre will be close to the school, town centre, and sports and recreational service.
“We have been told that there is nowhere in Australia that can offer a centralised service like we are hoping to offer,” he said.
The Silvan Recreation Reserve was also a winner in this year’s budget, with $235,000 allocated for drainage works.
Cr Warren said this was great news as the Silvan reserve had been needing an upgrade for the past 40 years.