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Publish Date: 14 May 2021
Held in front of a public gallery for the first time since April 2020, Buloke Shire Council’s May Ordinary Meeting was highlighted by the adoption of key draft documents that will inform the medium and long term future of Council. Council’s Annual Budget 2021/22, Council Plan 2021-25 and Long-Term Community Vision, Revenue and Rating Plan and Financial Plan have all been adopted in draft form for the purposes of community consultation.
Council’s draft Annual Budget 2021/22 details the resources required over the next year to fund the large range of services and programs Council provide to the community. It also includes details of proposed capital expenditure allocations to improve and renew roads, buildings, footpaths, drainage and recreational facilities.
The draft Council Plan 2021-25 and Long-Term Community Vision presents a range of strategies to guide Council over the next four years under the Council Plan as well as applying a ten-year lens to inform the Community Vision. The Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan has again been incorporated into the Council Plan.
Supporting both these documents are the draft Revenue and Rating Plan, which informs the approach to generating income required to support the implementation of the Council Plan and the draft Financial Plan, which enables improved monitoring of Council’s financial viability, and better reporting and analysis of decisions and assumptions over a 10-year period.
Also, at the meeting Council adopted its Playspace Trail Strategy and will now seek funding for its implementation. In 2020 Council developed five concept designs for playgrounds in Berriwillock, Birchip, Charlton, Donald and Wycheproof. Based on strong consultation, the strategy includes a consistent approach in design features, yet ensuring each playground has a unique offering to draw community members and tourists through the Shire. In addition, improving the accessibility is a key theme across each playspace, with a full all-access playspace proposed for Donald.
Council has a way forward with the disposal of some excess land in Sea Lake. 131 Horace Street will be sold whilst Council will apply for funding to subdivide 110 Sutcliffe Street, the old Primary Schools site, and then undertake sale of all but one of the blocks.
It has been resolved that the Rainbow Pride Flag will be flown at Council’s Wycheproof Customer Service Centre each IDAHOBIT Day over this term of Council in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. Held on 17 May each year, IDAHOBIT Day is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia.
Three important contracts were awarded at the meeting for important road rehabilitation works and the Brightening Broadway Project.
Reconstruction of a stretch of just over 3.5 kilometres of the Sea Lake-Lascelles Road and a 4 kilometre section of the Nullawil-Birchip Road will be reconstructed by Coburns Earthmoving whilst the Brightening Broadway Project, which will deliver a range of streetscape accessibility and amenity improvements, has been awarded to Capeng Pty Ltd.
Minutes and documents relating to the May Ordinary Meeting will be made available on Council’s website. The next Ordinary Meeting of Council will be held on Wednesday 9 June 2021.
End release For further information contact Manager Customer Engagement, Travis Fitzgibbon on 03 5478 0181 or tfitzgibbon@buloke.vic.gov.au