Rates to rise

By Melissa Meehan
PAKENHAM has come up trumps in the Cardinia Shire Council 2011-12 draft budget, with the council spending big on a youth facility, duplication of McGregor Road and community and children centres in the town.
The draft budget, released on Monday night, is now open for public comment from the community.
A 6.25 per cent rate rise is on the cards, slightly less than last year’s 6.9 per cent increase, along with a $50 rebate scheme for residential ratepayers who are eligible for a Newstart Allowance.
The council has purchased the former childcare/kindergarten site on Main Street to develop a Youth Facility – a boon for the area.
The facility will allow young people to have a safe, youth friendly venue where they can meet as well as be involved in structured, affordable and interesting recreational facilities.
In the long term, once fully furnished the centre will have an internet café, band rehearsal room as well as open spaces and meeting rooms. Central Ward councillors Brett Owen and Collin Ross raised some issues with the paper, but said overall it was a good budget.
“I do encourage people to look at the full budget,” Cr Owen said.
“Some people in the shire get a 25 per cent discount while others in Lakeside pay extra.
“We also have residents in retirement villages who still get no rebate, which has definitely been an issue in past years.”
Cr Ross said he was pushing for a rate rise of no more than the Consumer Price Index as he had promised.
“I struggle with the rate increase above the CPI,” Cr Ross said.
“I suggest residents have a good look at that area of the budget and send in submissions.”
Mayor George Blenkhorn said the draft budget focused on achieving the right balance between servicing the record development in the municipality and ensuring support for local families and communities.
“As one of Australia’s top three fastest growing municipalities, Cardinia Shire’s continuing population and baby boom is expected to reach unprecedented heights over the next 12 months,” Cr Blenkhorn said.
“This growth is good news, but it also places council’s services, infrastructure and resources under much greater pressure.”
The draft budget takes in a shire-wide approach, including a capital works program totalling more than $28.6 million.