Hobsons Bay Residents Association (HBRA) has made a budget submission objecting to the council’s plans to increase its debt to $16.5 million.
HBRA’s submission also claims it is unfair that Strand ward has been allocated four times more than Cherry Lake ward in the capital works budget.
Figures in the submission show Strand ward will get $10.2 million, compared with $2.6 million for Cherry Lake ward and $3.4 million for Wetlands.
In 2013-14, Strand ward received $8 million, Cherry Lake $1.5 million and Wetlands ward $1.1 million.
The HBRA submission said council debt would rise from $1.6 million last financial year to $16.5 million by July 2015. “This is an increase of more than 930 per cent in just two years.’’
The submission also questioned what the council was buying for $2.3 million in Wetlands ward.
“There is another confidential acquisition in Wetlands ward of $2.3 million, which is proceeding, financed completely from borrowings,” the submission states.
“Why is the council treating this confidentially?’’
Star Weekly asked the council several questions about the HBRA’s concerns. Mayor Sandra Wilson replied: “We won’t be responding until we’ve considered the submission and responded to the HBRA directly.”
