The Annual Business Plan, Budget and Long Term Financial Plan 2023/24 sets out the actions that Council will deliver for the financial year, including existing services and new or enhanced services, aligned to Mitcham 2030.
The 2023/24 Annual Business Plan, Budget and Long Term Financial Plan:
From the Mayor
On behalf of the City of Mitcham, I present the 2023/2024 Annual Business Plan, Budget and Long-Term Financial Plan.
The Plan includes several cost neutral climate initiatives and continues to address the impact of climate change through self-funding solar investment opportunities.
In the year ahead we look forward to honouring co-funding commitments to State and Federal governments to progress a range of projects as well as continuing to maintain and improve our community buildings, roads and reserves.
Those projects include:
- Enhancements at AA Bailey Reserve, Clarence Gardens
- Revitalisation of reserves in St Marys
- Oval facilities upgrade at Mortlock Park, Colonel Light Gardens
- Rozelle Reserve upgrade at Melrose Park
- Extension of the Blackwood Lions Bargain Centre.
The appointment of an additional Open Space Volunteer Coordinator will allow us to better support our volunteers and increase our volunteer workforce and help us deliver better outcomes for the community.
Council is set to increase rates by an average $171 per residence, an average increase of 8.9 per cent. I acknowledge the financial pressure that the current economic environment is placing on our residents and businesses, and the impact of this rate increase. I would like Council to have been able to deliver a lower rate rise, however, we are also experiencing the current financial pressures across our services. We have worked especially hard this year to find efficiencies and ongoing savings of $863,000 per annum to help us to deliver existing services at less than the cost of inflation.
Many residents have lowered their cost of living by taking advantage of our solar, battery and virtual power plant collaboration through our Mitcham Community Renewables Program. This program is continuing. Additionally, Council has prioritised our exploration of new ways to lower energy costs for residents and businesses, noting that the power costs are set to increase dramatically by more than 20% from 1 July 2023.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to create a sustainable, vibrant and connected community.
Please contact Council if you are experiencing financial hardship as alternative arrangements for rate payments are available.
Financial overview in 2023/24
- $77.4 million Operating Expenditure
- $44.6 million Capital Expenditure
- $78.3 million Operating Income
- $0.9 million Operating Surplus (excluding subsidiaries and one-off items)
Council priorities in 2023/24
Council will deliver a number of new or enhanced services and projects in addition to its existing services. These include:
- Implementing the Brown Hill Keswick Creek Stormwater Master Plan
- Installing Solar Panels and a Battery at Belair Community Centre
- Installing Solar Panels at Tiwu Kumangka
- Installing Solar Panels and a Battery at the Mitcham RSL
- Investing in the Road Asset Renewal Backlog (to be completed by 2027)
- Upgrading Drainage and Carparking at AA Bailey Reserve, Clarence Gardens
- Revitalising Green Spaces in St Marys
- Upgrading Mortlock Park Oval Facilities, Colonel Light Gardens
- Upgrading Rozelle Reserve, Melrose Park
- Investing in Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)
- Extending and Upgrading the Stormwater Network
- Provision of Annual Community Facilities Grants
- Additional Open Space Volunteer Coordinator
- Proposed Extension of the Blackwood Lions Bargain Centre, Eden Hills
- Maintaining Water Sensitive Urban Design Projects
- Provision for Minor New Capital Requests in Open Spaces
- Upgrade of the Flinders Drive Pedestrian Crossing with Flashing Twin Lights
- Provision of a Sustainable Living Subsidy Program for Cloth Nappies and Sanitary Products
- Implementing a Cyber Security Program
- Christmas Activation at CC Hood Reserve, Panorama
- Entrance Upgrade and Meeting Room Relocation at Hawthorn Bowling Club, Hawthorn
- Installing a Public Toilet and Storage Facilities at Manson Oval, Bellevue Heights
- Provision of a Green Buildings Fund
- Investment in Spatial Software for Weed Management in the City of Mitcham
- Implementing the City Image (Signage & Furniture) Pilot Scheme
Council will also deliver a number of one-off initiatives and programs (called operating projects). These include:
- Developing a Bike Strategy and Accessibility Plan
- Contribution to establishment of Parkrun
- Acoustic Treatment of Spaces – Stage 1
- Desktop Community Facilities Mapping
- Tree Assistance Fund (trial)
- Maintenance of South Road Garden Beds
- Increasing the Mitcham Public Arts Grant Funding
- Service Review of the Street Sweeping Program
- Cyber Security Program
Further operating projects will be considered at reviews of the budget priorities throughout the year.