Our 4-year Council Budget

We have prepared a 4 year budget which outlines how we will deliver services and programs to our community.

The budget covers things like managing waste, upgrading our infrastructure, community facilities and parks, operating our libraries, recreation centres, events and festivals, and services to people at all stages of life.

Some of the highlights of the budget are:

• Commencing the construction of the $27.8 million Fawkner Leisure Centre redevelopment (stage one);
• Completing construction of the $11.3 million Fleming Park redevelopment;
• Commencing construction of the $22.6 million Saxon Street Community Hub project;
• Commencing the upgrade works for several kindergartens over the next five years totalling $14.6 million. Including completing Oak Park kindergarten & Doris Blackburn in 22/23;
• Roads and carparks renewal and maintenance ($12.3 million);
• New footpaths and bicycle paths ($5.8 million); and
• Improvement to parks, open space and streetscapes ($12.5 million).

Ideas from our community

The draft budget has been influenced by community ideas from our community engagement earlier in this year. In the first stage of engagement we called for community ideas and received 32 projects or initiatives that met the criteria. In the second stage we ran a community voting program, including three pop-up sessions, we had a total of 1,412 people vote on their top three projects.

The Community Budget Ideas that have been included in the Budget are:

• Hadfield Sporting Club Scoreboard and Coaching box $160,000;
• Harold Stevens Athletics Track Fences $150,000;
• Merri Creek Trail: Seating Installation Blitz (25 seats) $87,500;
• Community Access to a Commercial Kitchen $70,000;
• Extending the Youth Holistic Outreach Program (YHOP) $60,000;
• Northside Renters Rights Info Nights $10,000; and
• K W Joyce Reserve Water Refill Station $10,000.

We're seeking community feedback on the draft 4-year Council Budget

The draft 4-year Council Budget is now available for viewing and feedback until 22nd May 2022.

You can also come to our 3 customer service centres and any Merri-bek library to view the draft budget in hard copy and give your feedback. Make sure you have your say by Sunday 22 May.