Budget blaze

By Tania Martin
YARRA Ranges Council has revealed it had to spend an extra $18.76 million as part of a mid-year budget review.
It had to dig the cash from last year’s surplus to help cover costs following the Black Saturday fires.
Lyster Ward’s councillor Samantha Dunn said normally there was no need to release a revised budget but this year had been different.
She said usually the council could juggle the books in order to overcome financial discrepancies.
“We’ve had considerably more expenditure because of the fires.
“Normally it wouldn’t affect our bottom line but this year was different so we needed to put it out to the public as a full budget review,” Cr Dunn said.
The review outlines a massive $1.4 million on bushfire preparations following Black Saturday.
This includes more than $100,000 for the council’s Neighbourhood Safer Place program and relief centres.
“For those things that happened along the way (the fires) we had to draw on our surplus from last year,” Cr Dunn said.
The revised budget also allocated $50,000 for court costs to fight opposition to the Monbulk Community Hub project.
Other highlights include $25,000 for light tower improvements at Morrison Reserve in Mount Evelyn and $300,000 for additional temporary accommodation.
The revised budget is now available for public comment until 26 February.
Any submissions will be considered at a council meeting on 9 March before the budget is formally adopted.
Residents can view the revised budget by logging onto www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au or by picking up a copy from one of the community links in Monbulk, Lilydale, Upwey, Healesville or Yarra Junction.