By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
KNOX City Council tabled its proposed budget for the 2016-’17 financial year at a special council meeting on Tuesday 3 May.
The proposed budget contains a number of public capital works for the Ferntree Gully and Upper Ferntree Gully areas.
The next stage of the rejuvenation of the old CSR Quarry in Ferntree Gully has received $200,000 in funding for the coming financial year.
Talaskia Reserve in Upper Ferntree Gully has also been earmarked for $200,000 for the development and implementation of a master plan for improvements to the ground and facilities.
The centre of Ferntree Gully is moving closer to receiving a facelift with $100,000 allocated in the proposed budget for the implantation of a master plan to rejuvenate the village square.
Upgrades to the Knox Regional Netball Centre in Ferntree Gully are also set to be funded to the tune of $55,000 in 2016-’17.
The HV Jones Reserve will also have a master plan developed for potential upgrades with the council allocating $45,000 for the development of that plan.
The Knox City Council proposed budget allocates $9.4 million for roads infrastructure across the council.
This includes $390,000 for the construction of Quarry Road and $45,000 for street Lights on Fitzgerald Street in Ferntree Gully.
Another $65,000 has been set for the construction of footpaths along Rollings Road in Upper Ferntree Gully, from John Street to Burwood Highway.
In the mayor’s introduction, Knox City Council Mayor Cr Tony Holland said the State Government’s rate cap would impact funds available to council for service delivery.
“As a result of the introduction of rate capping by the State Government, council’s ability to generate sufficient funds to provide the level of capital works and services expected by the community in future years will become more difficult,” he said.
“With contract costs and salaries increasing at a level greater than the cap set, council will increasingly be faced with a constrained financial planning environment.”
Knox City Council has not applied for an exemption to the State Government set rate cap of 2.5 per cent and expect to raise $102 million dollars in rates over the 2016-’17 financial year.
“While the average rate increase will be in the order of 2.5 per cent, as the values of individual properties across the municipality increase or decrease in value in comparison to the average property increase across the municipality, the amount of the rates charged will increase or decrease accordingly,” Cr Holland said.
Knox City Council are accepting public submissions regarding the proposed budget until 5pm on Thursday 2 June.
Submissions can be made via the Knox City Council website, or by mail addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Knox City Council, 511 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South 3152.
