Ararat Rural City Council is encouraging community members to have their say on the 2024/25 Council Draft Budget before submission deadline on 11 June. This process is part of Council’s ongoing commitment to community consultation.
The Draft Budget proposes a net zero per cent rate increase and features $15,513,000 investment in capital works projects, including upgrades to the Ararat Library, funding for reconstruction works and sealing urban gravel roads to improve transport connectivity, and local infrastructure upgrades including drainage.
Proposed investment will also go towards economic and community developments such as the affordable housing initiative, support for young people’s programs, continuation of Council’s Façade Grants Program, funding of a resident attraction program to support development of an increasingly skilled workforce for the municipality, and continuing to fund free access to outdoor pools.
“We’re immensely proud to deliver an average zero percent rate rise for the seventh year running,” says Ararat Rural City Mayor, Cr Bob Sanders. “Our focus on upgrading crucial infrastructure across the community continues, along with a significant investment in the future of our young people, with funds going towards programs for primary and secondary school students and a very exciting trades apprenticeship program in the works.”
The initiatives in Ararat Rural City’s proposed Budget 2024/25 will deliver significant benefits to communities across the municipality, including:
- $6,250,000 investment in reconstructing at least six kilometres of Mt William Rd – a local road of regional significance to agriculture and tourism
- $100,000 commitment to delivery of young people’s programs across primary and secondary schools, primarily through Crazy Ideas College initiatives
- $500,000 contribution to an ongoing partnership commitment to Ararat Housing Enterprise P/L
- $230,000 contribution to community infrastructure projects
- $400,000 investment in upgrading footpath networks
- $100,000 to support a resident attraction program to support development of an increasingly skilled workforce
- $200,000 to modernise and upgrade Ararat Library
- $2,143,000 to reconstruct sections of Buangor-Ben Nevis Rd
- $100,000 to support the successful, ongoing Business Façade Program
- $1,461,000 to reconstruct sections of Webb St and Churchill Ave in Ararat
- $80,000 contribution to a $330,000 project to redevelop the Tatyoon sports oval; $250,000 provided by the Country Football and Netball funding stream
- $1,800,000 towards renewing rural gravel roads through resheeting or sealing treatments such as Otta Seal
- $750,000 to fund Year Three of Council’s five-year commitment to improve urban drainage systems
- $239,000 to renew kerb and channel assets
- Ongoing commitment to developing key skills areas in the municipality through graduate and cadet appointments, and development of a trades apprenticeship program in 2024/2025
- Continuing funds to support free access to outdoor pools
A copy and Snapshot of Council’s Draft Budget 2024/2025 is available via engage.ararat.vic.gov.au.
Submissions can be made via the Engage Ararat website, by writing to Ararat Rural City Council (PO Box 246, Ararat, VIC, 3377) or emailing [email protected]. Submissions are open until Tuesday 11 June at 5:00pm.