April 29, 2022
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Anzac Day dawns anew
Wreath laying at Ocean Grove. (Ivan Kemp) 277949_31
Thousands of Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast residents came together to commemorate Anzac Day on Monday, April 25. It was the first time in more than two years that Anzac Day services weren’t impacted by COVID-19 gathering restrictions. Record numbers were recorded at dawn services, marches and commemorative services in Geelong and across the Bellarine. The Geelong RSL said it was an important day for all Australians. “Anzac Day is a day to honour and pay respect to the service men and women whose legacy is the freedom we enjoy today,” it said. “It is a day to honour and pay respect to the current men and women of our defence force who remain diligent, and to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice before them.” Geelong also had a special visitor for Anzac Day, with the HMAS Parramatta navy ship sailing in for the weekend. ■ Photos:
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Budget is back in black By Ash Bolt For the first time in more than two years, the City of Greater Geelong’s budget is back in the black. At Tuesday’s meeting, the council endorsed its draft budget, which included a $107,000 operating surplus over the next 12 months. “The last two years has seen Geelong council budget for significant annual deficits due to COVID-19,” finance portfolio chair Anthony Aitken said. “Such deficits are not sustainable, and we have worked hard to deliver a break-even budget for 2022-23. “Continued deficits affect our borrowings, capital spend and ability to respond to
NEW UST J GE ED A T S EAS L E R
community needs. “Delivering a break-even budget straight after COVID-19, and in a rate capping environment of 1.75 per cent, is a major financial achievement for council, while maintaining significant commitments and meeting the demands the continued population growth is placing on us.” Deputy mayor Trent Sullivan said the council had put together a “balanced” budget that managed ensuring the city was in a stable fiscal position while also providing the infrastructure and services needed by the community. A key feature in the budget will be a 1.75 per cent rate rise. However Cr Aitken said the way the state government’s rating system worked, combined with increasing property values in the region,
meant most homeowners would see larger increases. Cr Aitken said revaluations showed properties in the Bellarine ward had increased by an average of 30 per cent, while the remaining wards saw an average of 20 to 25 per cent. That meant residential rate revenue would rise by 4.54 per cent, which would see an extra $60 added to the average rate bill. However with industrial and commercial property values not matching that growth, they will see their average rates bills drop by $300 to $500. Cr Aitken said the rate differential created a better balance between the share of rates paid by residential and commercial ratepayers. Along with the rate increase, the city intends to borrow $71.3 million, including $14.8
million carried over from previous years. The income will help the city to provide its record capital works spend of $206.6 million, which Cr Aitken said would make sure the city was responding to needs of its growing population. Almost 30 per cent of the capital works budget will go towards two projects, with $50.4 million allocated to the Northern Aquatic Hub in Norlane and $10.7 million to the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre in Drysdale. There is also significant funding for libraries, with $7 million for the Armstrong Creek Town Centre Library, $6.15 million for the Drysdale Library and $1.4 million for the Chilwell Library. ■ Continued:
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