APRIL 23, 2019 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
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A dawn to remember Brimbank will once again pause in commemoration this Anzac Day, with services taking place across the municipality. For Caroline Springs RSL, the day will have added significance thanks to the unveiling of its new war memorial at Lake Caroline. Caroline Springs RSL membership officer Peter Burquest said it was an ideal time to unveil the memorial. “We’re right on the lake, about 100 metres away from WestWaters Hotel,” he said. “It’s well lit up every night, we’ve got rows of poppies and the ‘Lest We Forget’ adorning it – it’s a nice feature for Anzac Day.” Caroline Springs RSL will hold its dawn service at the new lakeside memorial from 6am on Thursday. People are asked to arrive by 5.45am. Across town, Sunshine RSL will hold a dawn service from 6.45am at the RSL in Dickson Street. Sunshine RSL president Gary Collins said he was hoping to see a lot of young faces among the crowd. “It’s a bit tricky to gauge numbers this year because it coincides with Easter,” Mr Collins said. “In the past we’ve had 1500 to 2500, so we’d be hoping to see a similar turnout this year, particularly with the younger generation – it’s always fantastic to see lots of young faces out there.”
Peter Burquest, Ken Witham, Allan Godfrey and Bill Tewson at the site of the new memorial. (Luke Hemer)
Tate Papworth
Rates decrease flagged By Tate Papworth Almost three-quarters of Brimbank residential property owners will receive a decrease in their rates next financial year. Brimbank mayor Lucinda Congreve presented the council’s draft budget for 2019-20 at last week’s meeting and said the decreases were a big win for residents. “The key take-out and message to the ratepayers as part of this budget is that in 2019-20, 72 per cent of residential properties will receive a decrease in their rates, which is a
really, really great story for us to be able to tell,” Cr Congreve said. “The draft budget also proposes a new rates differential for commercial and industrial land – or vacant land – which will be implemented … the new differential is intended to encourage the development of commercial and industrial land, therefore reducing the problems that can be associated with vacant land, such as illegal rubbish dumping. “The new rates differential will mean that these properties contribute a greater share of the overall rates council collects, but it will not
increase the total amount of money council collects in terms of rates. Instead, it will mean that other rateable properties attract a lower portion of rates.” The council’s operating budget for the year is $285.3 million, with capital works topping the list of expenditures. In total, $85.8 million will be spent on capital works in 2019-20. Sports facility upgrades will receive $32 million, roads and footpaths $25.8 million and town centre upgrades $5.4 million. Playgrounds and parks ($4.9 million), sustainability projects ($1.9 million) and bike
and shared paths ($1.7 million) will also receive significant investment. Cr Congreve said the capital works spend was a substantial increase on last year’s $59.6 million. “What all this adds up to is that we’re creating a better quality of life for the Brimbank community – better recreation facilities, better streetscapes, more efficient and enjoyable ways to get around the city, all with an eye towards sustainability,” she said. The draft budget is now available for viewing at brimbank.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay
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