MEDIA RELEASE
20 June 2018
Northern Areas Council adopts 2018/19 Budget
Following a period of public consultation, the Northern Areas Council at the Council meeting held on the 19th of June adopted its budget for the 2018/19 financial year. As part of the process, Council sought submissions from the community and also held community information sessions where members of the public were able to discuss the budget and seek further information.
The 2018/19 budget, has a rate rise of 8%, as Council seeks to continue its emphasis on renewing assets in accordance with its long term asset management plans. 2018/19 is the final year in which Council has forecast a rate rise above the Consumer Price Index, with Council’s long term financial plan forecasting future rate rises of 3%.
Strong emphasis has again been placed on Council’s road network, with $1.72 million allocated toward the unsealed road re sheeting program, with a further $520,000 allocated for road resealing. An additional amount of $250,000 has also been allocated toward new road sealing in the Yacka township as part of an overall Council wide five year strategy for new road sealing.
Other key budget items include:
- $448,000 to upgrade the Georgetown/Huddleston Floodway
- $350,000 toward renewal works at various town halls, including $130,000 for external painting
- $50,000 for renewal of playgrounds
- $45,000 to upgrade the Spalding Swimming Pool Plant Room
Council has also sought to address concerns raised from the community survey held in late 2017, with an uplift in funding toward public street lighting and footpaths. An additional amount of $40,000 has been allocated toward the first stage of a street lighting upgrade plan. Council has also allocated an increase of $50,000 toward footpath maintenance, raising the total allocation to $100,000, in line with Council’s recently adopted footpath strategy.
CEO Colin Byles said “while we appreciate this year’s rate rise is above indexation, it is the final year in which we have forecast such a rise which is in accordance with Council’s long term financial plan. It was well known that some years ago we had to address a significant backlog of infrastructure maintenance. Much of the urgent work was put toward the road network, while in recent years attention has shifted to buildings, in particular town halls.
The advantage moving forward is that we are now able to accurately forecast future maintenance expenses through the Asset Management Plans which Council has adopted. From completing the process it has enabled Council to adjust future rate rises beyond next financial year to an amount more in line with inflation, whilst also ensuring assets are maintained and overall Council debt is significantly reduced.
There’s also been strong discussion from the community through last year’s survey to seek an improvement to street lighting and footpaths. Accordingly Council has commenced the first stage of multi year plans to address those concerns”.
For more information about this article – please contact:
Colin Byles
Chief Executive Officer
Email: colin.byles@nacouncil.sa.gov.au
Phone: 08 8664 1139
Photo: 2018/19 will see a further $250,000 allocated toward new road sealing as part of a five year Council wide strategy, in addition to $520,000 in road resealing works