A former Hobsons Bay mayor has criticised the council for going into debt for the first time and distributing capital works funding “inequitably” in the draft 2014-15 council budget.
Last week’s council meeting heard that $7.3 million would be borrowed to take advantage of low interest rates and accelerate a record $30.5 million capital works program.
The Star Weekly requested a suburb by suburb breakdown of where the money will be spent, but was told it was unavailable.
Former councillor Tony Briffa said each year the chief executive provided councillors with a breakdown of capital works expenditure by suburb and ward.
“I’m sure they don’t want to release it because it will show the funding inequity in Hobsons Bay.
“The council is putting up rates and going into debt for the first time, but it’s only going to benefit Williamstown and Newport.”
Last year’s expenditure by ward was $8 million for the Strand (Williamstown, Newport and Spotswood), $1.6 million for Cherry Lake (Altona, Altona Meadows, Altona North, Brooklyn and Seaholme) and $1 million for Wetlands (Altona Meadows, Laverton and Seabrook).
Mayor Sandra Wilson said $5.5 million would be spent on roads, including $700,000 to start fixing the pothole-riddled Racecourse Road from Williamstown North to Altona.
“The capital works program provides benefits to residents across the municipality,” she said. “They are not just for the benefit of residents in one ward or another.
“Big projects take up a significant amount of funding in some years. This year, the Newport Youth Library and seniors project is an example; a couple of years ago it was Laverton Hub.”
“We will be spending more than $1 million on new cycleways and shared paths, getting on with stage three of the Pier Street upgrade ($500,000), improving AB Shaw Reserve ($410,000) while also working on Jack Madigan Reserve ($800,000) and the Newport Youth Library and seniors project ($3.8 million).
“This is a responsible budget based on a sound 10-year financial plan, the first time this council has developed such a forward-looking view of its finances.”
