Councillors endorse 2022-23 Budget with strong capital works focus

Published on 23 June 2022

Mildura Rural City Councillors last night endorsed the 2022-23 Budget, detailing how Council will fund the more than 100 essential services residents rely on, while continuing to develop and improve community facilities.

Mildura Mayor Liam Wood said the $154.36 million budget included a healthy $49.73 million capital works program, covering a diverse range of important projects providing a whole host of benefits for the community.

They include:

• $17.17 million on buildings and building improvements:
  • second stage of the Mildura Sporting Precinct
  • Irymple Kindergarten extension
  • upgrades/improvements to the Lake Cullulleraine Community Complex
• $11.54 million in roads projects:
  • construction of stages two and three of the Meridian Road south of the Sturt Highway
  • reconstruction of the Etiwanda Avenue and Tenth Street intersection
• $3.28 million on parks, open spaces and streetscapes:
  • Deakin Avenue median redevelopment from Seventh Street to Eighth Street
  • Nowingi Place playground replacement
  • Springfield Drive park development  

The municipality’s parks, playgrounds and trees will also benefit from more than $6 million in funding.

Cr Wood said the budget ensured critical community services for residents across the width and breadth of our 22,300 km² municipality continued to be provided, including:

• $7.58 million for youth, children and family services
• $4.12 million for community safety, health and wellbeing
• $3.85 million for customer services.        

The Mayor said Council’s annual budget was one of the organisation’s most important pieces of work.

“Our budget is the result of well over 12 months’ work, starting with the exhaustive community consultation that took place in March 2021 as part of development of our 2040 Community Vision and 2021-25 Council Plan,” Cr Wood said.

“It was this work, listening to our community, that has really formed the foundations of the budget.

“It’s also the result of months of work by our Finance team, which has the challenging task each year of balancing the need to keep any rate increase to an absolute minimum, while ensuring Council is able to continue to provide services for our community.

“This budget is also about making sure we’re able to improve community facilities and services, and able to realise new projects, all of which are essential not only for our community’s well-being, but to ensure our region continues to grow and prosper.”

To view Council's 2022-23 Budget visit mildura.vic.gov.au/Budget 

ENDS