By Paul Dunlop
CARDINIA Shire Council has found space in its budget for extra works in Tynong, Emerald and Kooweerup but refused to budge on pleas to lower rates.
Councillors at a special meeting on 26 June adopted their financial blueprint for 200607.
Rates rise by seven per cent in the new budget, a move councillors had hoped would be tempered by a halving of the controversial $100 municipal charge.
The rate rise prompted Pakenham woman Patricia Harris to write to council arguing it was too much.
Mrs Harris was one of seven people and organisations to make submissions responding to the budget released in draft form earlier this year.
She said the rates hike on top of increases in petrol, groceries and other household items was more than many families could bear.
“To increase rates in a shire predominantly populated by low income families will bring down living standards and community spirit,” Mrs Harris said in a letter to the Gazette.
“The cost of living for anybody in this state has become strained and not gradually, it has been a sudden, abrupt increase in the cost of living, food, fuel, everything.”
Submissions also came from Geoff Jolly, John Mitchell and Liberal candidate for Gembrook Simon Wildes, the Cardinia Ratepayers and Residents Association, Tynong Progress Association, Emerald Village Committee and the Kooweerup Recreation Reserve Committee of Management.
Councillors agreed to include in the budget a $20,000 allocation for a drainage strategy at Tynong, $40,000 for Pepi’s Land stage one works at Emerald and $15,000 for sealing the entrance to the Kooweerup Recreation Reserve from Denhams Road to the ticket box.
Responding to residents’ concerns about rising rates, council’s debt levels and its rating strategy, councillors said there was no reason to change its budget.
“The seven per cent rate increase ensures service levels and infrastructure are properly maintained and it addresses council’s recognition for intergenerational financial responsibility,” council said
The financial blueprint for 200607 was touted on its release as a return to oldfashioned local government values.
Roads and footpath works were the big ticket item in a budget that councillors admitted lacked ‘sexy’ projects but sought to focus instead on maintaining and improving basic services shirewide.