Imagine a new walking track long that loops around half of the city, opening up access for residents and visitors to the scenic Wollondilly River including exercise equipment and picnic tables.

Imagine 330% more work being done on Council roads in the region, including two new bridges.

Visualize the opening up St Clair Museum again as a new renovated, modern museum and archive facility.

Envisage always being able to find a car-park in one of many possible new parking spaces close to the CBD.

Visualize children playing with delight on a new $1.5M Adventure Playground.

Imagine enjoying upgraded parks and reserves and a new outdoor swimming pool.

How about attending a concert in a new Performing Arts Centre that is of international standard?

Or maybe attending a national sporting event such as an NRL match or a T-20 Cricket game in a new $9M Sports Stadium?

Imagine visiting villages that have vibrant local projects going on,

Or just walking along a rejuvenated, green, leafy and lively CBD area that includes lots of street art?

All of these amazing ideas (and more) are possible and can be achieved within four years – according to Goulburn Mulwaree Council’s exciting new budget for 2015/16 and the following three years.

Goulburn Mulwaree General Manager Warwick Bennett presented the visionary budget to Councillors at a Workshop on Tuesday, February 24. It represents a substantial 330% increase in Council-funded roads and bridge capital works from $2.4M to in excess of $8M.

Some of the other exciting projects detailed in the budget include:

·         A 384% increase in footpath extensions and renewal

·         A Mobile Library Van

·         Cleaning up many of the creek beds in the city

·         Ongoing replacement of public toilets

·         Upgrading and beautifying all entrances to the City

·         Continuing the CBD improvement work

·         A new Sewer Treatment Plant

·         The installation of reticulated raw water system for the city’s parks and reserves

·         The installation of a lift connecting the Library and the Art Gallery

The draft budget for 2015/16 and following three years will be the basis of the Operational and Delivery Plan that will be out for public consultation soon.

Goulburn Mulwaree General Manager Warwick Bennett said it was one of the most exciting “exciting” draft budgets he has ever worked on and that it would give Council a “clear vision to have a meaningful dialogue with the community going forward into the future.”

“The basic vision is to ensure that Goulburn Mulwaree develops even further into one of Australia’s great regional liveable communities as well as promoting Goulburn as a great city in which to invest and do business in,” Mr Bennett said.

“Importantly - this budget is all funded and financially sustainable well beyond the four year period of this budget period and all of this is going to be achieved with a modest rate increase of just 2.4%”

Mr Bennett said the Capital Works Program totals $130M over the four years, compared with $20M in the 2014/15 financial year.

“Most importantly - it takes the Goulburn Mulwaree community to a whole new level of providing facilities and services that a modern day community should expect from its Council – in fact, I believe it will exceed community expectations,” he said. 

“And Council remains financially sustainable, which is the key focus of Council’s Executive team in preparing this budget.”

Mr Bennett said he would be providing the community with information on specific projects in the budget over the coming weeks.

“Stay tuned in the local media over the next few weeks as I drill down into the detail of this budget and explain the projects for the community in more detail,” he said.

The Operational Plan and budget will go on public exhibition in early April.