Towns rise against budget

By RUSSELL BENNETT
CARDINIA’S hills ratepayers have been dealt a bitter double blow with both a 6.4 per cent rate rise and just $200,000 allocated for local projects in this month’s shire budget.
But Emerald, Cockatoo and Gembrook residents are not taking the news lying down, with meetings planned in the coming fortnight to discuss their plan of action.
Cockatoo’s famed McBride Street kindergarten will receive a promised $200,000 for major works at the site, but Cockatoo Township Group president Owen Deppeller said the group would soon meet to discuss its response to the budget – which has not allocated funds for any other specific projects in the area.
The main features of the council’s 2012-13 draft budget include $14.51 million to upgrade the shire’s sporting facilities, $500,000 for a bridge replacement and upgrade program, $460,000 for building and facilities upgrades, and a $400,000 new footpath program.
The majority of the council’s funded capital works programs are in the ‘growth corridor’ – a long-held bugbear of Cardinia’s hills residents.
The shire’s general manager of corporate services, Derek Madden, said preparations for the budget began in November last year.
“All areas of council have been involved in the drafting of this budget,” he said.
Mayor, and Ranges Ward councillor Ed Chatwin said the rate increase was necessary for the council to deliver community services and facilities.
“Council has no choice but to face the future impact of the carbon tax and increases to the EPA landfill levy,” he said.
“Of this rate increase, 0.5 per cent has been factored in for the carbon tax and $16.50 as a component of the garbage charge.”
The rate increase is expected to raise an additional $49.5 million for the council.
At a meeting earlier this month to present the budget, councillor George Blenkhorn said it was a culmination of six months of work from all areas of council.
“Council has committed to a number of new projects. Roads and bridges are to be upgraded,” he said.
“I note that each of the wards will benefit again from the budget.”
But outspoken Central Ward councillor Collin Ross urged residents and ratepayers to review the draft budget and said he didn’t support the rate rise.
“I urge them to read it carefully,” he said.
“There’s good sections and bad of this budget and as I promised, when I was elected, I said I would not support a rate rise above the CPI.”
Cr Ross said there were some positive things in the budget, like new playgrounds and other programs and services throughout the shire.
“But we need to weigh up the yearly cost and how much (ratepayers) get back,” he said.
Cr Chatwin said funding was evenly distributed across the shire.
“Much community comment is made about a perceived disparity between the capital spending in the growth area of Pakenham, Beaconsfield and Officer, and other parts of the shire,” he said.
“In fact, the majority of council-funded capital works spending goes outside the growth area.”
News of the Cardinia rates hike comes as the State Government budget also neglected to deliver promised funding for Emerald Primary School’s upgrade.