Moyne Shire Council has approved an additional $500,000 budget allocation from its general surplus for the next two financial years to help deliver what it has dubbed the Great Moyne Build.
The 250% increase in budget allocations marks one of the Shire’s biggest ever capital works programs, Council said in a statement today.
“At Tuesday’s meeting, Councillors approved an additional $500,000 budget allocation from the general surplus for the next two financial year to allow for additional project staff to be hired to help deliver what is being dubbed the Great Moyne Build,” it said.
Moyne’s average capital program prior to the COVID-19 pandemic averaged an annual allocation of around $16 million.
The estimated program of capital works for the 2022/23 financial year is approximately $41
million which includes additional funding from the Federal Department of Infrastructure,
Transport, Regional Development and Communications programs.
Mayor, Ian Smith said with additional government grants and a large proportion of Moyne’s own budget directed to capital works – the program’s budget blew out by 250%.
“Our program has everything form road upgrades through to sporting pavilions, streetscapes and community spaces,” Mayor Smith said.
“We’ve been able to attract a significant amount of government funding for key projects and we hope that even more will be made available in the lead up to the state election.
“I think the community want to see these projects delivered rather than sitting on the books for years – so to do that we need additional resources.
“Our in-house works teams do a fantastic job, but with such a huge increase in projects, they need a few more hands on deck to help. This budget allocation is a prudent use of resources that will deliver for the community.”
The additional budget allocation will allow for an increase for two equivalent full-time positions and allow for specialists services to be engaged where needed to assist with items like design, engagement of contractors or specific project managers, Council said.
