We have adopted the 2022/23 Annual Business Plan and Budget.
Our focus is on supporting our community and local businesses, and delivering on a range of services and infrastructure for affordable rates.
The average rates increase across the City is 2.45%, less than CPI.
73% of residential ratepayers will have a rate increase of less than 5% (current CPI) with 15% having a reduction in rates for 2022/2023. More than a third of ratepayers will have an increase of 0.36%.
Our budget includes:
- $97 million for Core Operating Services including Parks and Reserves, Roads and Pathways, Planning and Development, 5 Library Services and 7 Community Centres, Waste Services
- $39 million of Capital Works Projects including Roads and Pathways works, Sporting Club upgrades, Public and Street Lighting
- $4 million of Annual Operating Initiatives such as our Business Support Programs, Greening Our City, Customer Relationship Management System, Events and Festivals
Key Projects in 2022/23 Include
| $120k towards a strategic upgrade of the Meakin Terrace sub catchment – West Lakes (The Lake) Catchment | Budget allocated is for detailed design of stormwater detention in Gleneagles Reserve. This has been identified as the highest priority action in the West Lakes Catchment Stormwater Management Plan (SMP). The flooding event in February 2022 has reinforced the immediate need for this priority project. |
| $100k for design of the streetscape renewal of Chief Street, Brompton | Detailed design for the section of Chief Street between Port Road and Hawker Street in Hindmarsh/Brompton. Construction to occur in future financial years subject to budget allocation. |
| $3.5m towards Ngutungka Henley Hub | The construction of a blended service model facility at Henley combining the Henley Library, Community Centre and the existing heritage Town Hall. |
| $3.48m towards the Woodville Road Streetscape Upgrade | Budget allocated towards construction of Stage 1 (streetscape renewal from Port Road to the railway line) and Stage 3 (improvements to the Port Road gateway). Preliminary works to underground powerlines and realign the water main have already occurred and were budgeted in previous financial years. |
| $138k towards Net Zero Energy and Emissions Reductions and Solar Installations | Works include solar installations at Arch Paterson Community Centre, The Brocas, and Hindmarsh Library. Additional energy efficiency measures will occur at Hindmarsh Library and Civic Centre. |
Key Operating Projects for 2022/23
| Ageing Well | Review Council’s ‘Ageing in Charles Sturt’ action plan. Commonwealth Home Support Programme: - Coordinate the efforts of 100 volunteers supporting various community service programs and donating 8,000 hours per year. |
Library Services | Deliver integrated service delivery with the creation of Community Hubs. Deliver a range of library resources and services including 24/7 access to digital library, diverse collections and resources, community language collections, community information, internet and wireless service access as well as literacy, lifelong learning, digital literacy and recreational programs. Service a membership of over 30,000 people, over 400,000 visits and near 700,000 physical loans, over 120,000 e-resource loans annually. Provide 3 branch libraries and 2 community hubs across the City plus a mobile library and home service. Provide services and programs to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities. Deliver a selection of Council Customer Services, including a rate payment service. |
| Community Centres | Provide support staff in community centres at Findon, Cheltenham, Henley & Grange, Bower Cottages, 19 On Green and Seaton North with 89,000 participants supported by 13,337 volunteer hours. Implement and deliver on actions in the Community Plan 2020-2027. |
Further information on our 2022/23 Annual Business Plan and budget is available online.