A Message from the Mayor Bill Moar Draft budget out for comment I’D like to encourage residents to have a read of council’s 2021/22 draft budget which is out now for public comment.
The budget plans for a rate rise of 1.47 per cent, and continues the council focus of striving for efficiency in its operations, while delivering high-quality services and facilities to our community, and a capital works program.
The budget includes a number of projects (many in partnership with the state and federal government) including Our Place, Ronald Street housing development, Swan Hill Regional Soccer Hub and Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum carpark upgrade.
Additionally, there is delivery of the Vibrant Villages projects in Woorinen South, Manangatang, Lake Boga, Boundary Bend, Piangil, Beverford, Ultima, Nyah and Nyah West.
The draft budget does include a significant increase in the differential rate paid by owners of vacant residential land.
This is to encourage development of much-needed vacant residential land in developed areas of the municipality, which is crucial to the future growth of our municipality.
This differential rate on vacant residential land only comes into effect once that vacant land has been under the same ownership for three years.
If that land is sold to another owner, the new owners have three years before they have to pay differential rates on that land.
The draft budget is available at www.swanhill.vic.gov.au/yoursay by clicking on “Comment invited for council’s 2021/22 draft budget” or by contacting council offices on 5036 2333.
You can provide feedback via the link above or in writing to the Chief Executive Officer, Swan Hill Rural City Council, PO Box 488, Swan Hill VIC 3585. Comment must be received by Monday, May 24. Submissions open for Draft Road Management Plan COUNCIL would also like to hear from residents regarding the Draft Road Management Plan 2021, which is currently under review.
The Road Management Plan outlines how often council will inspect council-managed roads, when a defect is going to be rectified and how long works crews can take to fix different issues.
These levels of service are tied to the classification of a road within the Register of Public Roads.
You can view the Draft Road Management Plan 2021 and the Register of Public Roads, and provide a submission by going to www.swanhill.vic.gov.au/yoursay and clicking on “Proposed Draft Road Management Plan – open for submissions”.
The documents are also available at council offices.
You can provide your submission via hard copy to the Enterprise Assets Manager, PO Box 488, Swan Hill, Victoria 3585.
Submissions on the proposed review must be received by Monday, May 24. Pioneer Settlement Heritage Victoria assessment COUNCIL is currently working through all options following Heritage Victoria’s recommendation that the Pioneer Settlement be included in the Victorian Heritage Register, and will consider its position during the 60-day consultation period.
You can view Heritage Victoria’s recommendation at: https://heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/wpcontent/uploads/2021/04/ED-RECOMMENDATION-INCLUDE-SWAN-HILL-PIONEERSETTLEMENT.pdf Program empowers youth COUNCIL’S Empower Youth Program is working with young people aged 12 to 25 years who are disengaged or at risk of disengaging from family, education and/or community.
The program strives to connect disadvantaged young people to opportunities to allow them to develop and grow, and empowers young people to engage with a support worker to determine a pathway to achieve their goals.
Pathways are developed in partnership with other service providers to address, stabilise and overcome any barriers to future success.
Council recently appointed Empower Youth Engagement Worker Ashlee Mason, whose role focuses predominantly on outreach to young people aged 12 to 25 years in Robinvale, Manangatang and surrounds.
To find out more about the program or to refer a young person, visit https://youth.swanhill.vic.gov.au/empower-youth-program
