Georges River Council is encouraging locals to have their say on its draft 2021/22 budget.
This year's budget includes upgrades to the Mortdale, Riverwood and Hurstville streetscapes, upgrades to the Hurstville golf course, the Oatley Bowling Club masterplan, the remediation and decontamination of the Carss Park Pool site, the continuation of the Olds Park masterplan and much more.
Georges River mayor Kevin Greene said the budget was focussed on maintaining and improving the council's existing facilities.
"The most important thing about this budget is securing our future and maintaining the quality standard of our services to our community," he said.
"We will have the upgraded Mortdale Shopping Centre streetscape - we will renew and reinvigorate that space.
"Covid has already shown us that people want to shop local and be local, and by providing that environment we are encouraging people to shop and buy local.
"Obviously priority of this council is to maintain and build on facilities that are already there
"Whether it be streetscapes, curb and guttering, stormwater, amenities blocks, community halls; we need to keep them up to scratch."
The council is also expected to adopt a Special Rate Variation (SRV) as a part of the new budget.
Georges River Council general manager Gail Connolly said the rate increase would replace the expiring $2.3 million former Hurstville Council rate increase.
"The special rate variation that we have applied for will mean that our rates income remains unchanged, it is simply replacing the expired SRV from Hurstville Council," she said.
"The budget has a commonsense approach."
"Our strategy in relation to new capital works projects remains unchanged, meaning that all of our new projects are funded from developer contributions or government grants."
The draft budget will seek to enhance spending on the council's cultural events including its Lunar New Year celebrations.
The proposed draft operating plan also includes a deficit of $4.5 million.
However Cr Greene said the budget reflected a positive long-term outlook for the council.
He encouraged locals to provide their feedback on the draft plan.
"I'd encourage locals to take a look at the documents and have their say and recognise that our council focuses on secure financial development so we can maintain our facilities long into the future," he said.
"There is a small deficit but our long term financial plan predicts that will change in the next two to three years."
The budget includes:
- Hurstville Golf Course Clubhouse - $3 million (jointly funded by the state government and Hurstville Golf Club)
- Hurstville Oval Cricket Pavilion - $3 million
- Former Oatley Bowling Club Masterplan Works - estimated total cost of $4 million
- KWMP Site - Decontamination and Remediation - Up to $9 million
- Mortdale Shopping Centre Streetscape - project estimated at $4 million
- Hurstville Revitalisation - $3 million
- Riverwood Main Street - $1 million (depending on grant approval)
- Olds Park Master Plan Implementation Design Stage 1 - $300,000
- The Green Sports Amenities Building - estimated cost of work around $500,000
- Kogarah CBD Streetscape Upgrade - estimated cost of work around $400,000
- Plant and Light Vehicle Fleet Replacement - $3.5 million
Details: georgesriver.nsw.gov.au.
