Tag: victorian councils

Media Release: Lighting the way to a greener future

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Maroondah residents are being asked to sign an online campaign, Give Our Streets the Green Light, to lobby the government to fund a changeover to energy-efficient street lighting.

Council has joined the Municipal Association of Victoria and other Victorian councils to lobby the state and commonwealth governments to fund the changeover to new energy-efficient globes.

In Maroondah the upfront costs of replacing more than 5500 mercury vapour globes currently lighting Maroondah’s streets is about $2million.

Maroondah Mayor Councillor Alex Makin said the goal was to reduce Council’s greenhouse gas emissions and create a greener more energy-efficient future.

“By changing all local road street lights from the mercury vapour 80W lamps to a more energy efficient lighting it would not only benefit the environment but it would save on electricity costs.

“Council estimates that 36 per cent of its green house gas emissions and 39 per cent of its electricity costs are generated by street lighting,” Cr Makin said.

“Electricity is predominately generated by burning brown coal which results in significant green house gases,” Cr Makin said.

“By making the change we can reduce our carbon footprint and work towards mitigating the effects of climate change,” Cr Makin said.

“The sooner the change over, the sooner we start making a difference,” Cr Makin said.

Maroondah Council has been a strong advocate for the campaign, moving a motion at the Australian Local Government Association’s National General Assembly in June calling on the campaign to be adopted as an issue of national significance.

The Give Our Streets the Green Light campaign, organised by the Municipal Association of Victoria, aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 78,000 tonne over the life of the lights. That equates to about 31.2 billion black balloons or 341,917 cars off the road for a year.

Residents can pledge their support by signing an online submission www.greenlightourstreets.org.au or by sending a letter to their local Member of Parliament.

Media Release: Ensuring a sustainable financial future for Maroondah

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Maroondah City Council’s Proposed Council Plan 2010-2014 and Proposed Budget 2010-2011 were formally adopted during Council’s Monday 28 June meeting. The documents highlight the key initiatives which underpin the planning and budget blueprints for the Maroondah community.

Mayor of Maroondah, Councillor Alex Makin, said the Council Plan set out a broad range of Council activities designed to assist Council and the community move towards the future, as identified in Maroondah 2025: A Community Planning Together.

“The Council Plan clearly details the range of strategies that will be adopted over the coming four years and outlines Council’s commitment to working in partnership with the community to foster quality and sustainable lifestyles,” Cr Makin said.

“There are eight themes within the Council Plan: community; economic development and employment; infrastructure; leisure and culture; natural environment; transport; urban design and development; governance and corporate support,” Cr Makin said.

“The 2010-2011 Budget outlines the provision of financial resources for the coming 12 months, and details how these resources will be applied to delivering the many services Council provides to the community,” Cr Makin said.

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

“One of the key factors in this year’s Budget is providing the resources to bring forward the operational deficit that has existed in 12 out of the past 14 Council Budgets,” said Cr Makin.

“It is imperative that this Council draws a line in the sand to ensure that ongoing deficits are no longer acceptable. We must move our financial status into surplus as soon as possible to allow Council to be in the position to invest in community facilities and to meet our obligations now and into the future,” said Cr Makin.

“Council has determined that the operational surplus will now be brought forward to the 2012/13 financial year (three years earlier), commencing with the 2010/11 Budget,” said Cr Makin.

“The operating result for the 2010/11 year is planned at a $1.782 million deficit which halves that of the 09/10 Budget,” said Cr Makin.

“It is important to remember that rates and charges provide 63 per cent of Council’s operating revenue, with the remainder sourced from user charges, operating and capital grants and interest,” said Cr Makin.

“The cost of services delivered to the Maroondah community in 2010/2011 is expected to be $91 million, which is an increase of $6.2million over the 2009/2010 Budget,” said Cr Makin.

The Budget is based on a proposed general rate and charges increase of 9.8 per cent.

This increase is made up from:

CPI (taken from the December 2009 quarter)3%
Infrastructure Levy2.5%
New initiatives2.5%
Regional Aquatic & Leisure Centre in Ringwood1.1%
State Government imposed increase in Landfill Levy0.7%

For the average ratepayer living in a median priced house in Maroondah this represents a $98.10 increase in annual rates and charges, or $1.88 extra per week.

“Maroondah remains one of the lowest rating councils in Victoria, with figures released this week by the Municipal Association of Victoria indicating Maroondah has the 7th lowest (per capita) rates and charges of 71 Victorian Councils,” said Cr Makin.

“When further assessing these figures, the six lower rating Councils (per capita) are much larger in population than Maroondah, and therefore benefit from substantial economies of scale as well as other sources of income,” said Cr Makin.

“In addition, at an average rate of $549 per head, Maroondah has the lowest rating of all nine Victorian Councils of similar size (90,000 to 120,000 people),” said Cr Makin.

INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES

“Council’s Budget provides the resources to ensure we are able to sustainably provide over 120 services to the 105,000 members of our community, as well as providing resources for a number of new initiatives,” said Cr Makin.

These new initiatives include

  • $445,000 to provide ongoing maintenance on new capital works projects, such as the new Ringwood multi-purpose shared sports pavilion and all weather synthetic surface
  • An additional $126,000 in funding to Ringwood and Croydon libraries provides books and computer access for all members of the community, with over 1 million library books borrowed each year
  • An extra $150,000 to be spent on bushland clearance and fire prevention works in our bush reserves
  • Additional $250,000 to ensure powerline clearance of trees throughout the municipality
  • Investment of $50,000 to develop the Heathmont Structure Plan to identify and plan for residential and community needs around this transport hub and shopping precinct
  • Additional $50,000 on striking new signage throughout Maroondah identifying parks, reserves and buildings, includes pedestrian/cycling signage

LEISURE FACILITIES – MEETING THE COMMUNITY’S FUTURE NEEDS

“The allocation of funding in the 2010-2011 Budget (1.1% of rate increase) will be used to develop the design work and continue the community consultation for the proposed Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Ringwood, which will replace the existing Ringwood Aquatic Centre,” said Cr Makin.

“It is important that Council looks to the future to ensure that we meet the expectations and needs of the Maroondah community. A new regional aquatic and leisure facility is an exciting project that will generate enormous community benefit, and ensure significant leisure and aquatic facilities for the Maroondah community into the next 50 years,” said Cr Makin.

“Maroondah is maintaining its position as a lower rating council in metropolitan Melbourne and returning the budget to surplus allows us to deliver exciting projects like the proposed Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Ringwood,” said Cr Makin.

The 2010-2011 Budget and 2010-2014 Council Plan will be available for viewing on the Maroondah City Council website at www.maroondah.vic.gov.au

– ENDS –

Media Release: Proposed Budget and Council Plan on public exhibition

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Maroondah City Council has released its proposed Budget for the 2010-2011 financial year. It underpins the released 2010-2014 proposed Council Plan, which is the blueprint Council follows to achieve the community’s vision as set out in Maroondah 2025 – A Community Planning Together.

Mayor of Maroondah, Councillor Alex Makin said both documents would go on public exhibition to provide the community with the opportunity to offer any feedback or forward written submissions.

“The proposed Budget outlines the provision of financial resources for the next 12 months, and details how these resources will be applied to delivering the many services Council provides to the community,” said Cr Makin.

“In determining the level of rate income, Council carefully considers all sources of non-rate income, such as government grants and fees and charges; what capital works and services are required throughout the year; and the long-term vision, aspirations and needs of the community,” said Cr Makin.

As in previous years, Council ensures financial sustainability in accordance with its rolling 10 year long term financial strategy. Council has always kept its rate income at the lower end of local government when compared with other like Victorian Councils, however the result of this approach has meant that Council operations would not come into surplus until the 2015/16 financial year.

“The 2010/11 budget provides that this operational surplus will now be brought forward to the 2012/13 financial year (three years earlier) and will require an associated comprehensive review of operations to ensure Council maintains its high community satisfaction scores as well as streamlining efficiencies,” said Cr Makin.

The Budget is based on a proposed general rate and charges increase of 9.8 per cent. This increase balances a range of community enhancements (2.5%), annual Infrastructure Levy (2.5%) with CPI increases of 3 percent. It also takes into account funding for the new landmark Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre (1.1%) to be built at the current Ringwood Aquatic Centre site, as well as funding the State Government imposed Landfill Levy increase (0.7%).

For the average ratepayer living in a median priced house in Maroondah this represents a $98.10 increase in annual rates and charges, or $1.88 extra per week.

“The community enhancements identified in this year’s Budget include an additional $126,000 in funding for libraries, $150,000 for fire hazard reduction in our bush reserves, an additional $250,000 to ensure powerline clearance of trees throughout Maroondah and $445,000 to fund ongoing maintenance for new capital works completed in recent years,” said Cr Makin.

“We are also putting $50,000 towards developing a Heathmont Structure Plan which will identify and plan for residential and community needs around this transport hub and local shopping precinct,” said Cr Makin.

“Council is also managing the impact of a 233 (two hundred and thirty three) per cent increase in the State Government Landfill Levy, an increase of $400,000 for 2010/11, resulting in a total cost of $570,000 per annum,” said Cr Makin.

“Council’s established policy is to fully recover all waste and recycling costs through the application of a Garbage Charge, which this year will see an increase to offset the increased costs of the State Government Landfill Levy,” said Cr Makin.

The new garbage charges will be $204 – based on a 120 litre bin (an $11 increase on last year) and $172 – based on an 80 litre bin (a $9 increase on last year).

Council introduced a Municipal Charge in 2004-2005 which is equal to the amount of the contribution it is required to pay to the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board (MFESB). This is designed to add transparency to the rating structure and to emphasise the impact of costs to Council over which it has no control.

For 2010-11 the total MFESB cost to Council has stabilised at $905,880. Given the increased number of property assessments since last year, the amount proposed per property will reduce slightly from $20.15 last year to $19.90 for this coming financial year.

“Council has prepared a very responsible Budget which maintains our services to our community, and also takes into account a number of major external costs and reductions in funding from both the State and Federal Governments,” said Cr Makin.

“It also ensures that we are not only maintaining and upgrading our infrastructure, but that we are taking into account future needs of the community and providing the facilities to meet these. The new Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Ringwood will be a landmark project for the Maroondah community, providing a state of the art aquatic and leisure facility that will meet the growing demand into the future,” said Cr Makin.

“As always, our ongoing challenge is to balance the needs of our community, maintain the quality and level of our services and manage the ever increasing costs that Council must incorporate,” said Cr Makin.

The Maroondah community are invited to view the proposed Budget and Council Plan at Council’s Service Centres, Ringwood and Croydon Libraries and Council’s website at www.maroondah.com.au.

Submissions for the proposed Budget and proposed Council Plan will be received at the Maroondah City Council Offices, Braeside Avenue, Ringwood until 5pm on Friday 14 June 2010.

The community consultation process will continue at a meeting to hear and consider any submissions on both documents at 7pm on Wednesday 23 June 2010 at Maroondah City Council Offices, Braeside Avenue, Ringwood.

At a Special Council Meeting on Monday 28 June, Council will adopt the Budget and Council Plan, which may include any recommendations raised as a result of the submissions.

During the public consultation period (15 May to 14 June 2010) residents and property owners may obtain further information by appointment.

For queries about the Council Budget please contact Council’s Financial Services Unit on 9298 4323 and about the proposed Council Plan contact Council’s Planning and Performance Advisor on 9294 5588. Alternatively, please visit www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/ProposedBudget2010.aspx

Maroondah Leader: Council push on demands

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The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) is the peak body representing each local council across Australia.  Each year ALGA holds a national assembly, whereby Councils can submit and debate motions to help shape the priorities and advocacy undertaken by the organisation.

The City of Maroondah has proposed several motions consistent with the themes of population, productivity and participation, which are central to this year’s ALGA National Assembly:

That this National General Assembly calls on the Commonwealth Government to financially support the upgrade of infrastructure within large Metropolitan Activity Centres to cater for the increased population growth by 2050.

That this National General Assembly calls on the Commonwealth Government to ensure that any possible changes to the funding of health care services, particularly the area of Home and Community Care (HACC) and Maternal and Child Health services, does not impact on current funding arrangements with Local Government.

That this National General Assembly calls on both the State and Federal Governments to provide financial assistance for the roll out of Energy Efficient Street lighting.

The Maroondah Leader has reported on the motions proposed by the City of Maroondah:

Mayor Alex Makin said the council wanted to ensure that changes to the funding of health care services did not impact on current funding arrangements with local government.
Many Victorian councils deliver home and community care, as well as maternal and child services, Cr. Makin said. “The commonwealth must be alerted to the need to protect their financial interests and community wellbeing with any changes to the system.”

The Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly will be held in Canberra from the 14th to the 17th of June.

Media Release: Council to present three motions at ALGA conference

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Maroondah City Council will present three motions to the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) National General Assembly in Canberra from 14 to 17 June.

Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Alex Makin, will make the presentations on Council’s behalf.

“The three motions to be presented on behalf of Maroondah are seen to be of national significance, particularly as issues such as population growth and climate change need to be approached at the national level in the interest of all Australians,” Cr Makin said.

At its meeting of Monday 19 April, Council approved the three motions for submission.

“The first motion calls on the ALGA National General Assembly to encourage the Federal Government to financially support the upgrade of infrastructure within large metropolitan activity centres to cater for the projected increase in Australia’s population by 2050,” Cr Makin said.

The second motion requests that the ALGA National General Assembly call on the Federal Government to ensure that any possible changes to the funding of health care services, particularly in the area of Home and Community Care and Maternal and Child Health services, does not impact on current funding arrangements with local government.

“As Victorian councils are involved with the delivery of these services, the Commonwealth must be alerted to the need to protect their financial interests in any changes to the system,” Cr Makin said.

Cr Makin said the third motion requested that the ALGA National General Assembly call on state and federal governments to provide financial assistance for the roll-out of energy efficient street lighting.

“Implementing energy efficient street lighting is the single biggest issue for Councils trying to reduce greenhouse emissions and meet greenhouse reduction targets,” Cr Makin said.

“There are substantial changeover costs associated with the introduction of new energy efficient street lighting and this presents a significant barrier to the uptake of this technology,” Cr Makin said.

– ENDS –