2019/20 Operational Plan
At next Tuesday night's council meeting we will be considering a number of important reports including the Goulburn Barefoot Waterski Club proposal, the draft Recreational Needs Strategy, feedback from the CBD Enhancement consultation process and an update on the Workspace 2580 - however for this week's column I would like to focus on the Draft 2019/20 Operational Plan, which has been completed for council's consideration.
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Councillors have worked through this document with staff over the past two months during workshops, and we are pleased that we are able to deliver a balanced budget, which will continue with a number of major projects including:
- Continuation of the Wollondilly River Walkway
- Construction of the Performing Arts Centre
- Replacement of the May Street Bridge deck
- Thornford Road Bridge replacement
- Japanese Garden in Victoria Park
- Implementation of the CBD Masterplan
- Continuation of St Clair restoration work
- Aquatic Centre upgrade
- Development of a regional hockey complex
- Development of Riverside Park
- Upgrade works at the Goulburn Waste Management Centre
- Solar panels at the Goulburn Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- Improvements to infrastructure in the North Goulburn Industrial Precinct
It is important to note that IPART has set the rate pegging limit for 2019/20 at 2.7 percent; this amount continues to be short of the real cost increases we as a council are facing.
We will be increasing the domestic waste charge for the year by around $25 and the rural waste fee by $15 as we continue to deal with increased costs for recycling and waste disposal. Fees and charges at the gates of our Waste Management Centres will also see some rises to ensure that the waste business unit is self-funding. Although council never likes to raise charges, it is necessary within this area to ensure we remain sustainable - waste disposal is a costly business.
I am pleased to inform residents that sewer and water charges will rise by only 0.25 percent for 2019/20, and council does not intend to charge a stormwater levy for the next financial year.
For further information on our operational plan for 2019/20 please keep an eye out for the council agenda, which will be released on Friday this week.
If approved by councillors next Tuesday the Draft Operational Plan will be placed on public exhibition from Thursday, April 11 until Friday, May 17 for wider community comment. We welcome feedback, suggestions and submission from the community as ultimately this is your budget!
