By Goya Dmytryshchak
Hobsons Bay council is proposing a record $56.15 million capital works spend under its draft 2019-20 budget.
It has allocated $27.2 million for buildings, $16.2 million for open space, $4.2 million for roads, $3.2 million for footpaths and cycleways, $1.7 million for drainage and $1.3 million for libraries.
Major building projects include the $7 million Altona Sports Centre extension and $5.3 million Altona Civic Centre customer service and community meeting space.
A further $4.4 million is earmarked for sports redevelopment projects at Bayside College campuses in Newport and Williamstown, which will be available for the community to use.
There is $3.8 million allocated for Donald McLean Reserve, $3.7 million for Crofts Reserve, $2.965 for JT Gray Reserve, $2.4 million for Digman Reserve, $1.4 million for Dennis Reserve and $1.1 million for Fearon Reserve.
Cr Peter Hemphill told last week’s council meeting that the capital works spend was almost double that spent in the past few years, with sport and recreation facilities scooping about $43 million.
“We have been successful in getting a lot of grants – I think collectively they total $10.6 million – and most of that comes from the state government,” he said.
The community is being invited to provide feedback until May 15.
