Last night, Clarence City Council approved its budget for 2019-20 with a focus on delivering and maintaining quality services for its growing community.
The 2019-20 budget provides for a total rating increase of 2.9 per cent, excluding the State Government Fire Levy.
In setting the budget, council was conscious of increasing costs associated with waste management services, and the loss of income from reduced TasWater dividends.
The rate increase is above the March Consumer Price Index for Hobart of 2.1 per cent and below the annual movement in the most recent Local Government of Tasmania (LGAT) Council Cost Index of 3.3 per cent. The LGAT Council Cost Index is considered to be the better measure of the true cost of providing local government infrastructure and services.
“We have developed a budget that balances affordability with the need to provide the necessary infrastructure and levels of services for our growing city,” Mayor of Clarence, Alderman Doug Chipman said.
“We are committed to investing in services and programs where people of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to improve their health and quality of life.” said Alderman Chipman.
Significant budget expenditure items included:
- Stormwater works at Blessington Street in South Arm and Elinga/Carella Street in Howrah/Tranmere; Percy Street in Bellerive and Bangalee Street in Lauderdale;
- Footpath, kerb and gutter works on Hadlow Road in Lauderdale.
- Black Spot road improvement program on Sugarloaf Road in Risdon Vale;
- Wellington Street road upgrade in Richmond;
- Irrigation and reserve rejuvenation work at Victoria Esplanade in Bellerive;
- Irrigation upgrade to Lindisfarne Oval No. 1 in Lindisfarne;
- Irrigation, drainage works, goal post replacement and improvement of parking and pedestrian access at Risdon Vale Oval in Risdon Vale;
- Construction of 3.3km track at Clarence Mountain Bike Park in Mornington;
- Development of Barilla Rivulet Track in Cambridge;
- Next stage of upgrade to Clarence Foreshore Trail between Simmons Park and ANZAC Park in Lindisfarne;
- Planning of Bayview Secondary College sporting precinct in Clarendon Vale;
- Lauderdale Oval carpark seal;
- Development of new park at Blossom Court in Cambridge;
- Upgrade of entrance work at Beltana Park in Lindisfarne;
- Site search for a new south east regional play park and a new dog exercise park;
- Upgrade including accessibility facilities of Alma Street Senior Citizen’s Centre in Bellerive; and
- Upgrade including accessibility facilities of public toilets on Jetty Road, South Arm.
Council will continue to focus on improvements to road infrastructure with $5.2m allocated for road reconstruction and resealing and $1.8m on the renewal of footpaths, kerb and gutter.
Along with other Australian councils, recycling costs have increased due to higher quality control requirements. This, along with high demand for the popular annual hardwaste collection service, has contributed to an additional $321,000 being required to meet waste collection costs.