Rates up 6.9%

By Tania Martin and
YARRA VALLEY residents face a 6.9 per cent rate hike, a stark jump from last year’s 4.25 per cent rise.
The council defended the rise last week, saying it was needed for what is a big-spending budget aimed at stimulating growth in the region.
Yarra Ranges Shire chief executive Glenn Patterson said the rise equated to $1.71 a week on an average property and had taken into account a number of factors outside the council’s control, including the significant cost of responding to the most devastating bushfires in the state’s history.
The rate hike was critical, he said, in helping to deliver the shire’s construction program.
He added the council was working hard to address and clear a backlog of issues raised by the community.
Under the 2009-10 draft budget, the council will spend a record $68.5 million on capital works projects to stimulate construction in the region and support local jobs.
Mayor Len Cox said the budget would play a significant part in supporting the local economy at a time when Australia was officially in recession.
“Local government has an important role to play in supporting their local economies and helping preserve jobs,” he said
“This year’s budget is not only the most visionary in the council’s history, but given the backdrop of the global economy and job losses, it is probably the most important.”
Roads have been a big winner this year with more than $14 million allocated for upgrades including $1.28 million for Boundary Road (North Carmillo Road only)
The council also allocated $2.8 million for a local roads and resurfacing program including $346,000 for Armstrong Grove in Yarra Glen.
Parks and reserves were also been big winners with $2.7 million allocated for open spaces including $800,000 for park improvements – including $30,000 for vandal proof lighting in Queen’s Park, $200,000 for drought relief and $300,000 will go towards the rehabilitation of the shire’s sporting reserves and $40,000 had been allocated to a master plan for the Don Road Sporting Reserve.
Coldstream Landfill will receive $625,000 for rehabilitation works and a further $200,000 for two new bays.
Nearly $800,000 has been included for improvements to the Healesville Swinburne building.
Mr Patterson said improving footpaths and providing residents with better links between townships had been at the top of the council’s wishlist.
Footpaths will receive a $1.5 million per year boost, which includes money for improving infrastructure.
Aquatic centres will share in a cash $12.9 million windfall bringing the pool infrastructure fund up to $20.1 million.
But Mr Patterson said it was still unclear how the money would be spent.
“It will be six to eight months before we have clarity on how the fund is to be divided up,” he said.
However, Mr Patterson said the development of a regional aquatic centre in Lilydale was one of the shire’s key projects for the pool fund.
Cr Cox said this was the most exciting budget he has been involved in.
He said when Yarra Ranges came out of the amalgamation of Lilydale, Sherbrooke, Upper Yarra and Healesville shires over a decade ago and had a lot of debt to pay off.
“The debt is pretty much gone and now we believe it’s time to put more developments back into the community,” he said.