Council balances savings with spending in 2019-20 Budget
Friday, 28 June 2019
Inner West Council has adopted a Budget focused on saving ratepayers money and increased investment in fixing ageing infrastructure.
After exceeding last year’s $5.5 million savings target the Council adopted an amendment to the Budget from Mayor Darcy Byrne to establish a new $10 million savings requirement for 2019/20.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said that having established improved financial and asset management systems since the new Council was elected in 2017 the focus was now on saving funds to allow record investment in community infrastructure like roads, footpaths, pools, parks and sporting fields.
“Council is taking a more sophisticated approach to saving and allocating funds to our infrastructure investment,” he said.
“We are focusing on ensuring that the community has access to the top quality roads, footpaths and community facilities that residents of the inner west expect and deserve.
“We’re spending an extra 17 per cent in infrastructure over four years and another 7.4 per cent increase on last year’s budget on footpaths as population demand grows
“We will spend $43 million to transform the Aquatic Centre in Ashfield into a state of the art contemporary mix of recreational facilities and on the long-overdue upgrade of Dawn Fraser Baths. We’re also maximising access to our playing pitches by allocating $2 million for synthetic turf playing fields which will help meet the increased demand for more sporting grounds.”
“We have made great strides towards fully harmonising Council’s services, identifying the best of the services offered by the three former Councils and then introducing these across the entire Inner West local government area.
“And we are achieving this by being responsible and accountable.
The 2019-20 Budget includes the following funding commitments:
• $36 million to deliver new Ashfield Aquatic Centre
• $7 million upgrade of Dawn Fraser Baths
• $2 million for new synthetics turf playing pitches
• $40 million for shared pathways and cycleways
• $1.3 million for a new skate park in Lilyfield
• $800,000 on new play equipment in parks
• $23 million to replace and upgrade local roads
• $10 million to renew footpaths
• $1.3 million to retrofit Council buildings with solar power and energy efficient lighting
• $23 million to deliver the Parramatta Road Urban Improvement Program
• $7 million to upgrade Town Centres
• $800,000 to upgrade Alex Trevallion Plaza in Marrickville
• $540,000 for a new public square, cnr of Darling and Montague Streets in Balmain.
• $3.7 million to upgrade Haberfield Library and the Mervyn Fletcher Community Centre
• $4.3 million to upgrade Marrickville Town Hall.
For further information or for a print quality image, contact the Communication team.
For media enquiries, contact Elizabeth Heath | Media and Communications Coordinator P: +61 2 9392 5334 | E: Elizabeth.Heath@innerwest.nsw.gov.au