By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Residents face an average $85 hike in rates and waste charges in the Casey Council draft 2018-’19 budget.
But mayor Geoff Ablett issued a warning of hard decisions down the track – including the reduction or ceasing of council services – due to rate-capping starting to “bite”.
The State Government’s rates cap – set at 2.25 per cent in 2018-’19 – would hurt fast-growing communities like Casey over the next decade, he said.
“This year’s budget is … a window into the future in which the cumulative pinch of rate capping is clear.
“It represents a tipping point where the future will be characterised by the increasingly difficult job of bridging the gap between the infrastructure and services the community expect and what Council can afford to deliver.”
With the help of State grants, the council still unveiled a $121.2 million capital works program for the coming financial year.
Projects include a $4 million new pavilion at Jack Thomas Reserve, Narre Warren North, two new community centres at Clyde and Clyde North and a $7 million ‘missing link’ section of Glasscocks Road, Hampton Park.
The former Narre Warren landfill site will be renamed Bayview Park and developed into a scenic walk inspired by the 1000 Steps in the Dandenong.
The council also funded Stage 2 of Livvi’s Place all-abilities playground in Lyndhurst, and a community centre at Autumn Place, Doveton.
Casey also invested $4.5 million into digital technology, innovation and data.
Residents will pay an extra $28 in waste charges on average largely due to China’s recycling import restrictions .
In response to the ‘crisis’, Casey renegotiated its recycling waste contract with SKM Industries.
The impost was partly offset by reduced costs in maintaining the former Stevensons Road landfill as well as for hard waste collection.
