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IN THIS
EDITION
Volume 14, Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Laura off
OD
on trip of a lifetime Page 3
Out & About
celebrates 30 years Page 9
Page 16
“No frills” budget WRITTEN BY AMANDA HUDSON
R
oxby Council’s proposed 2017-18 business plan and budget is a “no frills” edition, with a focus on maintaining existing infrastructure and services, rather than introducing any major new projects. Speaking at a public information session last Wednesday evening, council administrator Geoff Whitbread told a small gathering of attendees that the plan – currently in draft format – featured an “austerity” budget.
“The plan is that we are having an austere budget, we are not doing anything outlandish,” he said. “The handbrake is on. “Rest assured we are trying to do it fairly and equitably, we are travelling lower than every other council that I know about in South Australia, and we still have to maintain the town.” A reduced cost focus for the next financial year would include (pending BHP Billiton and State Government approval) zero movement in residential rates (actual decrease of -2.1 per cent including inflation), along with a one per cent increase for water and power (-1.1 per cent
actual decrease including inflation), and a “no debt” policy. With most South Australian councils increasing residential rates, Mr Whitbread admitted that Roxby Council’s plan not to do so could make it unpopular among other councils. “There is some pressure from within the government sector about the no increase in rates, and we wait for the State Government and BHP’s views on that,” he said. Just over $2.3 million in capital projects listed in the draft plan include work to council’s high voltage systems, sewer lagoons, road network (including roundabouts) and
the Roxbylink stadium and swimming pools. The high voltage work – totalling around $400,000 – will include upgrades to 23 electricity transformers (many of which were installed pre-1990), with a contingency for replacement if required. Rust on the roof between the two Roxbylink stadiums has necessitated repairs, with the situation no longer able to be patched, while the stadium floors also require resurfacing as part of regular maintenance. Upgrades to the Emu Walk – a recreation trail linking nature reserves and walking paths around
Roxby Downs – have been listed at $400,000, with half of the funding hoped to come from the State Government. Mr Whitbread told the meeting that the Emu Walk funding would include work on one playground, better signage and paths, and upgrades to two school crossings. He also said the new financial year would see a “systematic review of operations” across both Roxbylink and council, with every aspect of business reviewed for relevance, effectiveness and cost efficiency. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Outback opera
Students from St Barbara’s Parish School joined the chorus in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin opera in Roxby Downs on Saturday night. More than 60 people attended the performance at the Roxbylink auditorium, which visited Roxby Downs as part of the Co-Opera program – aimed at getting opera out to communities around Australia. “The regional audiences are some of the best - it’s great being part of the community when you’re doing the performance because it allows us to feel connected to the people we’re performing to,” performer Kerrie Bolton said. PHOTO: EMMA ZIRKEL