In November 2022, members of Wyndham’s People’s Advisory Panel participated in a number of Annual Plan and Budget community focus groups to assist Councillors in their decision-making process, with a focus on capital works projects.

Panel members were invited to help provide input into a range of Wyndham-wide and place-based capital works projects.

Five place-based sessions were run over two weekends in November 2022. The level of engagement across the five sessions was high and participants were actively involved. A community engagement report on these sessions together with video recordings were produced and provided to Councillors in late 2022 to help inform the early stages of Budget conversations.

The proposed total Capital Works Budget is $168.3 million. This includes funding for new sports ovals, community centres, playgrounds, new and existing roads and other major initiatives.

A total of $38 million has been allocated to improve, build, upgrade and repair local roads and our Active Transport Network.

Proposed key road projects include the duplication of Tarneit Road between Sayers Road and Leakes Road ($4.5 million), the reconstruction of K Road Werribee South ($3.5 million) and intersection works for Davis and Dohertys Road ($2.5 million).

Leakes Road between Tarneit Road and Derrimut Road stage 1 ($2.2 million) will receive an upgrade while $3 million has been proposed for stage one to fix and widen Old Melbourne Road.

Early works for the duplication of Tarneit Road between Railway Avenue and Shaws Road ($1.7 million) has also been allocated.

A further $4.5 million has been allocated for the design and land acquisition of Armstrong Road from Ballan Road to Sayers Road.

The draft budget includes a proposed $1.45 million spend for Community Grants, putting more funds in the hands of community groups and organisations to run programs and events that make a difference locally.

Council remains firmly committed to projects that benefit our community and environment. In 2023/24, the Draft Budget includes $11.8 million for projects including $5.6 for the Wyndham Coastal and Marine Management Plan and K Road Cliff Drainage Improvements, and $4.2 million for the Wyn-R project (Reduction, Renewables, Resilience) – which aims to steer the municipality towards a more efficient, clean-energy focused and resilient future.

A further $2 million has been allocated for Greening the Pipeline, a multi-year project that aims to transform the heritage listed Main Outfall Sewer pipeline reserve, along the Federation Trail bike path, into a parkland to service Melbourne’s west.

The Draft Budget proposes to spend $20 million on Kindergarten and Children Centre Services in 2023-24.

The Draft Budget includes $41 million to maintain our parks, open spaces and streetscapes. This includes ongoing maintenance of our reserves and open space areas, playgrounds, and essential services such as mowing, watering and tree planting.

A further $12.3 million has been allocated in Capital Works for new and improved parks, open spaces and streetscapes. This includes playground upgrades and asset and park renewals.

Further, Council’s Annual Tree Planting Program will plant 8,700 advanced trees in 2023. A total of 5,100 street trees will be placed in streetscapes and 3,600 trees in open spaces. This year’s plantings are focused on shading arterial roads, residential streets, and shared pathways throughout Council’s open spaces. The planting season will run through until late August 2023.

A total of $10.8 million will be spent on our library services in the Draft Budget, plus an additional $1.3 million to purchase new library books and resources.

A total of $11.9 million will be spent providing vital Maternal Child Health and Immunisation services.

A total of $5 million has been allocated for the Active Transport Network, to renew existing footpaths, and design, build and upgrade cycleways and footpaths.

Rates will increase by 3.5 per cent, in line with the State Government’s rate capping requirements.

Councillor remuneration is set by the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal. It recently increased Councillor allowances for the Mayor to $119,316 for the period 18 December 2021 until 17 December 2022. The Deputy Mayor allowance increased to $59,658 and Councillor allowances increased to $35,972 for the same period.

From 18 December 2022 to 17 December 2023, the Mayoral allowance will increase to $122,630, Deputy Mayoral allowance will be $61,315 and Councillors $37,010.

The underlying result before depreciation in the 2022/23 Draft Budget is expected to be $72.85 million. The underling result after depreciation is expected to be a loss of $36.7 million. The Draft Budget includes a surplus of $145.7 million, which includes grants and developer contributions.

We want to know what you are excited about in the Draft Budget or if there is anything that we may have missed. You can provide your feedback online via The Loop or you can attend any of our Public Exhibition Pop Up sessions and have a chat to Councillors and Council Officers about your thoughts in person. Public Exhibition will take place between Friday 28 April – Sunday 28 May.

No, you can provide your feedback online via The Loop or at any of the Public Exhibition Pop Up sessions.

All community members that provide feedback will receive a timely response letting them know how their feedback has been considered in the final Budget.

The Final 2023/24 Budget is expected to be adopted at an Ordinary Council Meeting on 27 June 2023, following community engagement.