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27 APRIL, 2021
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A budget for recovery By Tara Murray
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Aiming for the crown
(Supplied)
COVID-19 recovery and investing in the community’s future are the key focuses of Brimbank council’s draft 2021-22 budget. The council adopted its draft budget last week, with rates likely to raise by an average of 1.5 per cent next financial year. The increase is in line with the state government’s rates cap and follows a freeze on rates this financial year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ratepayers will pay an average of $1658.13 in rates and charges in 2021-22, based on the municipality’s average residential property value of $585,000. The council is expecting to raise $166.6 million from rates and is proposing to continue its hardship policy and to fund additional pensioner rebates of $25. The draft budget includes a capital works program of $82.7 million, with $2.5 million in capital works carrying over from 2020-21. Mayor Ranka Rasic said the budget prioritised helping the community to recover from COVID-19. “The health, wellbeing and economic welfare of our residents and community is our priority, and we are committed to delivering a financially responsible budget that supports our community today,” she said. “Our budget planning continues to reflect the council’s commitment to operate in a financially sustainable and responsible way, all while operating in a rate-capped environment. “The council remains focused on advocating for government support [both state and federal] to help us deliver high quality services and infrastructure improvements in Brimbank. “The council will also continue advocating for funding for other key projects to help local economic activity and support our community’s health and wellbeing.” Cr Bruce Lancashire said the draft budget had been developed in difficult times. “A zero rate increase by the previous council and rate capping by the state government has added to the financial difficulties framing this draft budget,” he said. “[But] this budget contains many benefits for the people of Brimbank.” The draft budget will be on public exhibition until May 19 via: yoursay.brimbank. vic.gov.au.
Kings Park’s Demi Djemal thought she had missed out on making the Miss World Australia final. Ms Djemal recently competed in the Miss World pageant state final, where she was one of five Victorians to win a spot in the national final. After the first four finalists had been revealed, Ms Djemal thought her chances were over. “It is very exciting and surreal,” she said. “They went through one, two, three and four, and I told myself that if I didn’t get called out, it was OK. “When my name was called out, all my friends and family went crazy.” Ms Djemal won through to the state final in 2019, but the event was postponed last year due to COVID-19. She will now spend the next few months preparing for the national final, which will be held in Queensland in July. Ms Djemal said it would be an exciting opportunity. “There will be a lot more practice for that,” she said. “There will be a lot of preparation … It would be amazing to be crowned Miss World Australia. I’m going to try my best and whatever happens, happens.” Tara Murray
budget: Page 5
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