Sutherland Shire rates will be pegged at 1.5 per cent for the next financial year after a proposal to increase rates by 5.5 per cent a year from 2018-19 to 2020-21 knocked back at last week’s council meeting.
The proposal was one of several scenarios put forward to address the council’s infrastructure backlog expected to rise to $159 million by 2026-27.
Instead, the council adopted a “business as usual model” but with the condition that it will go to the community to see what future financial strategies would be acceptable to tackle the infrastructure backlog.
“Sutherland Shire Council has an asset backlog of $35 million at the moment and council’s income is not keeping pace with expenditure,” council’s director corporate support, Therese Mann said.
“This means during the course of 2018-2019 the council will be looking at a number of financial strategies to improve this situation to ensure we maintain a financially strong council and one that is sustainable for future generations.
“Our responsibility in local government is not just the here and now. Some of our assets can last 100 years and will have to be maintained for future generations.
“In the Sutherland Shire Council’s community survey and consultation in 2016 the community told us they would like to be more engaged in council decision-making.
“They wanted more involvement in long-term planning and were seeking input in council’s financial management and long-term planning.
“Rather than taking immediate decisions to change council’s rates or revenue or to change service levels, council decided the best approach is to have a discussion with the community to discover what services and infrastructure they value and how we will finance our service delivery and what financial strategies we will adopt to ensure the community’s desired service levels are met.
“We will commence community engagement in the first quarter of the new financial year.
“This will be done in a number of different ways and we encourage the community to get involved.”
The council adopted its draft delivery program for 2017-2021 incorporating its operational plan and budget for 2017-2018, and the draft resourcing strategy at a special council meeting last Wednesday.
This included approving a $45.6 million capital works program for the 2017-2018 financial year.
Highlights of the capital works program include:
> $2m to be spent on the upgrade of Ocean Grove Avenue, Cronulla which will be stage one of the renewal of the plaza.
> And $2.9m will be spent on stage four of the Woolooware Bay cycleway including construction of the boardwalk.
> $1.2m will be spent on the new Sandy Point Rural Fire Service station, and $750,000 on upgrade works at the the North Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club.
> $3.4m to be spent on road construction over the next 12 months and $4.8 million or road pavements.
> $150,000 will be spent on traffic engineering works, $530,000 on traffic facilities including linemarking and signage, and $901,000 on traffic management including roundabouts and intersection upgrades.
> $3.6m will be spent on cycleways in addition to $2.9 million on stage four the the Woolooware Bay Cycleway, including $400,000 for the Como Shire Gateway Path construction.
> $250,000 has been set aside for the BMX track at the Ridge Sports Complex which is due to be finished by Christmas.
> $805,000 will be spent on leisure and indoor recreation centres including $200,000 for a new water fun play park at Sutherland Leisure Centre and $450,000 to renew the utility pool.
> $520,000 will be spent on the new Barden Ridge Park, $300,000 on Joseph Banks Native Reserve, $300,000 on Como Pleasure Grounds, $200,000 on a dog off-leash park at the Ridge Complex and $750,000 on the Silver Beach pathway master plan.
> $300,000 will be spent on the Bonnet Bay pontoon upgrade and $300,000 on the Gunnamatta Bay Baths.
