Port Phillip Council has adopted its Budget 2019/20 and revised Council Plan 2017-27.
A $65 million investment in projects to maintain, grow and improve Council services and assets for Port Phillip’s growing community is at the heart of the Budget.
There’s extra funding for bike path upgrades, irrigation and “greening” open spaces and Council will continue to work on delivering innovative sustainability and placemaking outcomes for its diverse community.
Keeping the City clean for residents and visitors is another priority with increased funding for street cleaning, graffiti removal, autumn leaf litter cleaning and amenity issues management, including rapid response cleaning.
Key projects to be completed over 2019/20 include the South Melbourne Life Saving Club
redevelopment, JL Murphy Reserve pavilion upgrade and Alma Park stormwater harvesting project.
The Budget also provides for $2.2 million in efficiency savings to be added to the $11 million already delivered over the previous five Budgets.
Mayor Dick Gross said Council is doing its best to provide the best possible value to ratepayers while ensuring Port Phillip continues to offer the services, programs, public spaces and community facilities which make it special.
“Port Phillip is known for its history of inclusion and culture and continues to live up to its reputation as Melbourne’s seaside playground when visitors and residents flock to the foreshore every summer,” he said.
“This means that, unlike many other councils, we allocate funding to a comprehensive summer management program, adventure playgrounds, fantastic live music and short film festivals which attract visitors to our City, and affordable housing initiatives.”
Rates are an important revenue stream for Council and will increase 2.5 per cent on average in
2019/20, which is within the Victorian Government’s rates cap. Ratepayers may notice the increase is above or below the rates cap, depending on how the value of their property compares with others in Port Phillip.
Rates notices will be issued by the end of July. Port Phillip continues to be one of the few councils to offer a rates rebate for eligible pensioners, which will increase three per cent to $170.
The Council Plan additions allowed Council to incorporate updated results and to align key strategies.
