Vol. 16 No. 45
FREE PUBLICATION
Horsham lifts rates
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Making his mark
Farmers to pay less H
orsham ratepayers can expect a five percent rate increase in the next 12 months, their lowest annual rise in 12 years.
Horsham Rural City Council’s Budget provides $25.7-million in capital works across the municipality. Farmers within the city boundary are also big winners, with a significant rates reduction. The council approved its draft 2014-15 Budget and Rates Strategy and 2014-18 Council Plan at its latest meeting. Horsham Mayor David Grimble described the budget, now available for public comment, as ‘a responsible one that balances the need to keep rate increases down, yet still delivers much-needed services and infrastructure to the community’. “The budget has been developed without cuts to services. It will deliver a $25.7-million dollar capital works program and $1.84-million worth of new initiatives, with all key financial performance indicators remaining well within prudential limits,” he said. “We have maintained our capital works spending in core areas such as roads and other infrastructure, as well as completion of the town hall, art gallery and performing arts centre. “We’ve budgeted $1.25-million for the construction of a footbridge across the Wimmera
Horsham capital works 2014-15 • Horsham town hall, art gallery and performing arts centre, $11.5-million; • Roads, $5.35-million; • Pedestrian footbridge across Wimmera River, $1.25-million; • May Park $220,000; • Horsham outdoor pool repairs – carried forward from 13/14 $360,000; • Parks, recreation and open space, $190,000; • Construction of new waste facilities Dooen Landfill, $1.15-million; • Plant, equipment replacement $2.24-million. River with $750,000 from external sources and $500,000 from loan funding.” In other budget developments, the council proposes changes to its rates strategy, reducing a farm differential for rural residents by 10 percent to make it 80 percent of the general rate. Cr Grimble said the farm ratio move came after ‘an extensive and unprecedented review’ during the last six months. He said the review ‘considered all aspects of the strategy to identify changes that could be made to more equitably and
IN THIS ISSUE
efficiently distribute the rates burden in the community.’ “We consulted the community, received submissions and undertook modelling analysis of alternative rating structures,” he said. A 2014-2018 council plan, meanwhile, is designed to set direction and identify council priorities for the next four years. The budget includes: Lighting the Regions Sustainable Street Lighting project, $362,082; rehabilitation works for the Ladlow’s landfill site at Dooen, $600,000; pre-opening and set-up costs for the new town hall and performing arts centre, $185,000; money to complete further work on Essential Safety Measure audits of council properties, $20,000; and investment in new planning software, $35,000. Other items include: Master plan for rail corridor through Horsham, $15,000; contribution to a regional passenger rail feasibility study, $5000; funding for community halls and relocation of former Rosebrook Restaurant for community use, $25,000; allocation for international trade development, $10,000; Natimuk RoadWilson Street traffic study, $20,000; works on Horsham entrances and Stawell Road median strip, $30,000. • For more on the proposed footbridge, see page 3.
Horsham’s Jake Lloyd, 20, has quickly made an impression in the AFL since getting his chance with AFL powerhouse Sydney. Snapped up by the Swans at pick 16 in a 2012 second-round rookie draft, Lloyd experienced a season high with 29 disposals against Brisbane in early May and was part of the Swans’ demolition of Essendon at Etihad Stadium last weekend. Lloyd is the latest Wimmera football export that photographer Stuart Deayton from Willamy Images has captured in action for The Weekly Advertiser.
• Post Office works • Seppelt Wedding Expo feature • Football interleague games
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