Colac Otway’s Draft Budget to go on public exhibition

Published on 02 May 2019

Colac Otway’s Draft Budget to go on public exhibition

Colac Otway Shire Council's Draft 2019-20 Budget is on public exhibition and the community is encouraged to have its say on the proposed document.

Council Chief Executive Peter Brown said Councillors had endorsed the Draft Budget, with no garbage charge increase and a proposed average rate increase of 0.5 per cent.

Mr Brown said Councillors also voted to reduce the amount of funds allocated to wages which would require Council to reassess staff numbers and services if the proposed budget was adopted.

“Colac Otway, like other regional Councils, faces the ongoing challenges of maintaining roads, paths, community facilities and services, which exceeds CPI and the State Government rate cap of 2.5 per cent,” he said.

“But Council has been able to include the implementation of multiple major projects including the Coastal Tourism Parking and Traffic Strategy, the development of the Colac Civic and Rail Precinct Master Plan and the start of coastal City Deal projects in the Draft 2019-20 Budget.”

“Council is finalising the revised draft today and I urge residents and ratepayers to view the Draft Budget and provide feedback through a written submission,” Mr Brown said.

The community will be able to view the 2019/20 Draft Budget from tomorrow, Friday, May 3 online at https://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Community-consultations/Colac-Otway-Shire-Council-2019-20-Draft-Budget or at Council’s Customer Service Centres in Colac and Apollo Bay.

People will be able to lodge written submissions until Friday, May 31 and can elect to speak to their submission on Wednesday, June 12, with Council to consider the 2019-20 Budget at the Ordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday, June 26.