Cardinia Shire’s annual report for the 2023-24 financial year revealed an operating surplus of $105.3m, more than the budgeted surplus of $100.1m.
However, the surplus is offset by lower operating grant income and lower capital grant income with the adjusted underlying result a $5.8m deficit, favourable to the adopted budget by $3.9m.
According to the annual report, which was released at a special council meeting on 21 October, the lower capital grant income was largely due to planned works in the 2023–24 capital works program not being completed in the adopted budget.
The report notes that the operating surplus is not a cash surplus.
“The operating results are presented under the accrual basis of accounting and includes a mix of cash and non-cash items within both the income and expense categories,” the report states.
The capital works program delivered a ‘record’ of more than $83m, a 48 per cent increase on the previous year with major works including:
Princes Highway intersection project; budget- $29.184m funded by council and the Australian Government’s Urban Congestion Fund ($21.55m )
Sealing the Hills project; budget- $44.994m funded by $41m in Australian Government funding and the remaining co-funded by council and landowners via a special charge scheme.
Thewlis Road Integrated Child and Family Centre; budget- $11.288m jointly funded by council, the Victorian Government ($9m) and developer contributions.
Rates (and charges) income was $118,205,000 with employee costs at $53,466,000. Employee costs had increased from $49,465,000 in the previous financial year.
There were 431.51 full-time equivalent employees with 63.2 per cent of employees being female (including casuals) and 36.8 per cent of employees being male.
While 30.7 per cent of employees worked part-time.
Quick facts from the annual report:
An average of three new households move into the shire every day.
The estimated population is 135,147 as of 2024.
Cardinia Shire’s population is predicted to rise by approximately 39,658 over the next 10 years until 2034.
The largest percentage of Cardinia Shire’s population are parents and homebuilders aged 35-49 (21 per cent), followed by young people aged 12-24 (16 per cent), and the young workforce aged 25-34 (16 per cent).
The community satisfaction rating of sealed roads (out of 100) was 59.
The time taken to decide planning applications (median number of days) was 168, up from 100 in 2020-21.
Development Contribution Plans contributed $32,131,875.
Council’s borrowings total was $11.6 million at the end of the 2023–24 financial year.
