Clarence City Council has adopted its budget for the next financial year with a firm focus on building an even better city for people to live, work and play.
The 2024/2025 budget demonstrates Council’s commitment to supporting sustainable growth, while ensuring the city is resilient and stays on track with its long-term financial management strategy.
The budget incorporates an average rate increase of 6.48 per cent as a responsible balance between sustainably managing increased costs, maintaining infrastructure, and minimising financial impacts on ratepayers.
Clarence City Mayor Brendan Blomeley said the budget represented a strong investment in Clarence’s future.
“The centrepiece of this budget is a $21.6 million capital program to support the current infrastructure needs of our city and provide a firm footing for future growth,” Mayor Blomeley said.
“Part of this includes our plan to future-proof the city with more than $2 million to be invested in upgrading stormwater systems.
“We have allocated more than $5 million for road repairs, resealing, and footpath, kerb and gutter works. This investment builds better infrastructure that benefits everyone, every day.
“We are targeting investment to ensure our community have access to high quality amenities and services, including nearly an additional $1 million to complete funding for new lighting and pavilion at the Clarendon Vale Oval, and $600,000 to fully fund delivery of the Cambridge Dog Park in the coming year.”
Mayor Blomeley said responsible financial management continued to be a key focus for the Council.
“Delivering these investments in the context of rising costs is only possible due to Clarence City Council having one of the strongest financial positions of any local government body in Tasmania,” he said.
“While we have worked hard to keep rates as low as possible, we do acknowledge that some members of our community are continuing to do it tough, and I would urge anyone in such circumstances to contact our team to discuss Council’s financial hardship policy.”
Key budget initiatives include:
- Cambridge Dog Park: $600,000 to support the completion of the project
- Further expansion of the Clarence Foreshore Trail: $1,125,000
- Meehan Range Mountain Bike Tracks ‘Green Climb’: $120,000
- Clarendon Vale Oval lighting $440,000 and additional funds for Pavilion construction: $550,000
- City Heart Integrated Land Use/Transport Review: $550,000
- ANZAC Park Community Sports Pavilion: $330,000
- Bayview Park Playground renewal and upgrade: $500,000
- Bayview toilet renewal: $250,000
- Richmond Village Green and playground: $225,000
- Richmond Village Trail and interpretive signage: $100,000
- Sandford Hall and Evacuation Centre upgrades: $205,000
- Rosny Early Learning Centre upgrades: $200,000
- Parramore St stormwater improvements: $730,000
- Risdon Vale Creek stormwater Improvements: $300,000
Read the Budget Pages from Agenda 17 June 2024 or read the full 17 June 2024 agenda.
For more information on project mapping for the next 12 months view the Annual Plan 2024-2025