Glenorchy City Council formally adopted its budget estimates and Annual Plan for the 2022/23 financial year at a special council meeting held on Monday, 20 June.
The budget and Annual Plan take a ‘back to basics’ approach, with a focus on affordability and responsibility.
Mindful of the cost-of-living pressures being faced by its ratepayers, Council will limit its annual rate revenue increase to 3.5%, consistent with its Long-Term Financial Management Plan which was adopted this time last year.
The budget forecasts a deficit of $4.5m at years end, with a return to surplus in the 2026/27 financial year.
The budget sets out a $31.5m capital works program, which delivers on Council’s commitment to deliver federally funded sport and recreation projects, while also renewing and upgrading its $1 billion asset portfolio.
Council’s 2022/23 capital works program includes:
- $3.5m for a new regional playground at Giblins Reserve, Goodwood
- $435,000 on Road Safety Improvements, including $205,000 to install a safety barrier and resurface parts of Glenlusk and Molesworth roads
- $9.6 million in new and upgraded football (soccer) facilities at KGV (3.8m) and North Chigwell Oval ($5.4m), funded primarily through federal government grants
- $3m for Stage A of the Tolosa Reservoir Reintegration Project, preparing the former Tolosa Reservoir for future transformation into an iconic regional parkland, and
- $11.8 million in renewing, upgrading and maintaining our transport (roads and footpaths), stormwater and property assets, to ensure their long-term viability and reduce future maintenance costs.
Mayor Bec Thomas said the 2022-23 budget was reflective of community priorities, with a focus on delivering for the people of Glenorchy.
“Our community has told us they want to see our efforts focussed on what matters most to them – recreation and public open spaces including playgrounds, urban services like mowing and weed management, quality roads and footpaths, and environmental management.
“This budget gets back to basics, focussing our resources on doing what’s most important and doing it well” Mayor Thomas said.