Ballarat City Council Adopts 2022/23 Budget

Ballarat City Council adopted the 2022/23 Budget at its Council meeting on Wednesday night.   

This year’s Budget has a strong focus on sustainability along with stimulating the economy by delivering key projects required for a growing city.  

The Budget has been informed by community engagement processes, which started in November 2021, when the City of Ballarat asked residents to rank the Council Plan’s six goals in order of priority and then provide their top five priorities from the 40 strategic objectives.  

Along with this process, Council also considered the 42 submissions, including six verbal submissions, which were presented at the Council Meeting on May 25.  

Council considered all submissions and noted the responses drafted by officers in the June agenda that will be provided to submitters. A number of minor changes were approved to the draft budget including the recognition of additional commonwealth grant revenue and the confirmation of the final rates in the dollar for 2022/23. Council has requested a report be presented to the September 2022 meeting which will allow Council to consider options on how it could support budget submissions that are strongly aligned with the Council Plan 2021/25 priorities.   

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said community feedback along with Council’s commitment to sustainable budgeting and responsible financial management has led to a Budget that focuses on strong capital investment, while protecting our natural environment.  

“This Budget is balanced and financially sustainable, but it has an eye on the future,” he said.   

“Its big focus is on sustainability, but it remains committed to building the infrastructure that is necessary to cater for a growing, thriving city.  

“This Budget has been designed by Ballarat people for Ballarat people. Whether it was through the feedback we received in November or via the submission process, I would like to thank all those who provided feedback.  

“Submitters who provided contact details will receive a formal response to their submission in the coming weeks”.  

Big ticket items include:  

• $6.4 million on sustainable capital projects including $4.6 million on a Circular Economy Precinct (carried over from 2021/22)
• $19.3 million over four years in major community infrastructure, such as Alfredton Community Hub (Ballymanus), Sebastopol Community Hub, Royal Park Buninyong, Eastwood Community Hub plus kindergarten refurbishments
• $14.7 million capital expenditure by Council on renewing and repairing roads including reseals, major patching, asphalting, new roads and renewal of existing roads 
• $4.4 million in fleet and equipment renewal
• $3.84 million in the renewal and upgrades to City of Ballarat-owned facilities
• $2.3 million in landfill for construction of a new cell and capping for EPA compliance
• $1.95 million on the continuation of Bakery Hill Precinct Upgrade
• $2.1 million on drainage projects
• $800,000 on foot path and cycleways
• $700,000 on Doug Dean facility upgrade