Merri-bek’s four-year Council Budget has been adopted for 2023-2027, a $217 million budget funding core services and community facilities.
“This budget funds vital projects to ensure Merri-bek is a wonderful place to live now and into the future, while also being mindful of cost-of-living pressures faced by our residents,” said a City representative.
Some of the key highlights include:
• $32.1 million towards starting upgrade works for several early-years facilities over the next 5 years, including completing Oak Park Kindergarten and Derby Street Children’s Centre in 2023-24
• $24.1 million towards improvements to parks, open space and streetscapes, including continued delivery of new parks in Brunswick, Coburg and Pascoe Vale South
• $278,000 for Community Budget initiatives, including $80,000 for a shade structures program for playgrounds and parks and n $100,000 for accessible tennis facilities and reserves
• $120,000 in funding for a new homelessness outreach service
• An extra $1.5 million to boost to tree canopy coverage through additional tree planting and maintenance.
• $250,000 was also set aside to fund 6 ideas that were suggested by the community, and selected via a community vote:
• $80,000 – doubling the amount of shade structures at playgrounds and parks
• $33,000 – Take the First Step Merri-bek (Domestic Violence Prevention)
• $10,000 – installation of nesting boxes
The Council also allocated additional funding to these projects:
• $100,000 – accessible tennis facilities and reserves
• $50,000 – drinking fountains in shopping strips
• $5000 – more bins around parks