By Cam Lucadou-Wells
CASEY mayor Sam Aziz says the council is “most likely” to again apply for an exemption to the rates cap in its 2017/18 budget.
Cr Aziz said the council “can’t afford not to” apply for a rates cap variation again.
He said the “phenomenal” growth of 150 people moving into Casey each week caused great demand for infrastructure.
“If we don’t have the rates variation, we’re facing a $200 million black hole over the next decade.”
“We’re only talking about a marginal variation to rates for every household but it adds up to a lot – that’s the economy of scale.”
Cr Aziz said the council was working on a four-year-plan to create Australia’s most liveable city with more local jobs, more “beautiful master-planned suburbs” and “first-class” infrastructure.
“It’s a vision worthy of the largest city (in Australia) by population.”
The council had its application for a 3.47 per cent rates rise in 2016.17 – a 0.97 per cent variation to the 2.5 per cent rates cap – rejected by the Essential Services Commission in May.
The council is expected to decide on making its 2017/18 application in December.
Cr Aziz said the State Government’s recently-announced Growing Better Suburbs funding didn’t counterbalance the impact of rate capping in Casey.
Three projects will receive $7.3 million in State funds, including $1.4 million to match Casey’s contribution for a redevelopment of Strathaird Community Centre.
The State will also fund $2.3 million for sports facilities at The Hunt Club and $3.6 million for a family and community centre in Doveton.
The $50 million a year Growing Better Suburbs Fund targets 10 interface councils, including Casey – which received more than $5 million last year.
At the funding announcement, Narre Warren South MP Judith Couacaud Graley said the Strathaird project would expand the centre’s kindergarten and maternal and child health services.
It will include an internet cafe, a multi-purpose community room with modern technology, kitchen and courtyard, public art and improved parking.
It will create 45 extra four-year-old kindergarten places, and host more services such as a parents group and a sleep settling group.
Construction of the Strathaird project starts late 2017.
