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May Meeting Wrap

Publish Date: 14 May 2020

Council’s May Ordinary Meeting was its first held virtually and was highlighted by the adoption of the draft Annual Budget 2020/21 for public submission, the adoption of its Advocacy Strategy and the noting of progress against the Year 3 Annual Plan 2019/20.

The draft Annual Budget 2020/21 has been adopted and placed on exhibition for public submission. The budget places a high priority on supporting business with a range of initiatives including streetscape rejuvenation, riverfront works and various other tourism infrastructure projects funded.

Council has also proposed to invest more heavily in its infrastructure program, most notably with a close to $5 million injection into local roads.

Full details on making a written submission as well as the draft Annual Budget 2020/21 are available on Council’s website. Submissions close on 10 June 2020.

Council has adopted a new Advocacy Strategy to advocate on behalf of the community to other levels of government and key decision makers to achieve the vision of its Council Plan 2017-2021 and beyond.

The strategy, the first one of its kind adopted by Council, includes seventeen priorities and is intended to aid in advocacy activities led by Council by setting out a clear and compelling case for financial and policy support. The strategy will be reviewed within 12 months.

Council has noted progress made to deliver the strategic objectives listed in the Year 3 Annual Plan 2019/20. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that some initiatives have been delayed, including the delivery of the Municipal Early Years Plan.

Despite the constrains of the current climate, progress is being made on actions such as the Donald Community Precinct, Lake Tyrell Infrastructure Project and the Birchip Streetscape amongst others.

Council will apply for $1.5 million of funding under the Federal Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program to fund works on two sections of the Berriwillock-Birchip Road.

The sections of road, including a floodway near Birchip, are identified priorities in Council’s Long Term Financial Plan and $1.5 million of matching funding from Council’s Roads to Recovery allocation will be used as matching funding for the application.

The minutes and documents to related to this meeting, including the drat Annual Budget 2020/21, will be made available at www.buloke.vic.gov.au.

The next Ordinary Meeting of Council is scheduled to be held from 7.00pm on Wednesday 10 June 2020.

End release 
For further information contact Manager Customer Engagement, Travis Fitzgibbon on 03 5478 0181 or tfitzgibbon@buloke.vic.gov.au

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