First Budget Delivers Inner West Services and Infrastructure

A major $14 million development of the Ashfield Aquatic Centre, a $6 million upgrade to Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre, $3.6 million for the upgrade of Camperdown Park and $7.5 million for two new childcare centres in Lilyfield and Marrickville are just a few of the major projects approved in the first budget of the new Inner West Council.

Administrator Richard Pearson said the Inner West Council is committed to delivering the major projects and infrastructure of the former Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville councils, with the budgets prepared by those councils carried over in their entirety.

“The focus in the first new full financial year for Inner West Council is to continue building a dynamic new council for residents, ratepayers and business owners,” Mr Pearson said.

“The former Councils had done an excellent job of planning for the future budgetary needs of their communities, and we want to carry on that work.

“We are aiming to meet the community’s expectations and to ensure the long term financial sustainability of the new Council. However a key priority for us will also be to improve delivery across infrastructure, services and program areas.”

This coming 2016/17 financial year, Inner West Council will spend $4.5 million on footpaths; $8 million on roads; $15 million on improving local parks; $14 million on the Ashfield Aquatic Centre redevelopment; $7.5 million to upgrade the Ashfield Town Centre and $7.5 million on two new childcare centres in Lilyfield and Marrickville.

Last year, the former Ashfield and Marrickville councils successfully applied to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal for Special Rate Variations (SRVs) – rate increases to pay for essential infrastructure works.

In Ashfield, the SRV is earmarked for the significant upgrade of the Ashfield Aquatic Centre. The long-awaited $14 million redevelopment will include upgrading the existing 50 meter and water polo pools as well as constructing a new 25 meter Learn to Swim pool.

It will also provide an additional $2.7 million per year for the next 10 years for renewing other infrastructure assets, including community buildings, roads and footpaths, parks and drainage.

In Marrickville, the SRV will generate an additional $13.5 million over the next 10 years, with funds this financial year for $110,000 on upgrading Petersham Town Hall, $150,000 for carpark renewals,$260,000 on stormwater works, $630,000 on roads and $200,000 on park footpaths.

Leichhardt Oval will benefit from a $3.3 million upgrade that will include corporate facilities, food outlets and amenities and improved broadcasting and media areas; and $1.27 million will complete the adaptive reuse of Balmain’s Fenwicks Store into a fully accessible café and gallery space.

A $3.6 million upgrade at Camperdown Park will feature new sport, creative and community facilities and include a new playground for younger and older children, a youth zone with removable art walls and outdoor table tennis tables, a new amenities building replacing the existing grandstand, and new pathways, fences, boardwalks and tree and garden plantings.

To see the adopted plan and budget, go to www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au

First Budget Delivers Inner West Services and Infrastructure

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