Hume Council last week adopted its 2023-24 budget.
The budget was adopted at its June 26 meeting, and aims to target the areas where support is needed most, said a Council representative.
“Council’s Annual Budget 2023-24 includes significant investment in libraries, leisure centres, preschools, maternal and child health and aged and disability programs.
“This is complemented by a responsible four-year capital works program investment in city infrastructure, with a strong focus on community facilities, transport infrastructure and parks and reserves as we are Building a Better Hume.
“Council’s general rate increase of 3.5 per cent is in line with the Victorian Govern-ment’s established Fair Go Rates System, and we continue to review the services provided as well as the way they are provided to ensure that they are delivered as efficiently as possible.
“Our efforts are underpinned by the drive to create a cleaner, greener, more sustainable Hume City, that upholds the rights to social justice for our customers.
“Council’s Annual Budget 2023/24 commits to:
• More than $600 million in community facilities, roads, footpaths, parks and reserves over the next four years, including $128.33 million in 2023-24.
• $38.09 million to improve, upgrade and develop new buildings, including continued works for the upgrade of the former Craigie-burn Leisure Centre to a new indoor sports facility,, completion of the Kalkallo Central Community Hub, $20.01 million to construct, upgrade and maintain roads across the City, $6.50 million for footpaths and cycleways and $18.05 million for car parks.
• $26.78 million for land improvements, including park and reserve upgrades, construction of sporting fields and more. This includes completion of the four rugby league and touch football pitches at the Bridges Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn and beginning construction for the playing fields at Greenvale Recreation Reserve.
“The economic management of infrastructure spending allows Council to provide $305.88 million to meet the growing demand for a variety of day-to-day services over the next 12 months to:
• Collect more than 92,000 tonnes of kerbside waste, recycling and organics.
• Provide 21,000 hard waste collections;
• Undertake more than 43,725 kilometres of street sweeping;
• Remove close to 6000 square metres of graffiti;
• Provide 100,000 hours of domestic assistance, personal care and respite care for aged residents;
• Deliver more than 20,000 meals for people in need;
• Host more than 1.2 million visits to our leisure centres;
• Loan more than a million library items to over 18,000 Hume Libraries members.