Wyong Shire Council is the second largest spending Council in New South Wales with a record $66 million spend on local roads and $105 million on capital works planned for next financial year.
Council’s plans are outlined in its four–year Strategic Plan and 2015–16 budget adopted unanimously at a Council meeting on June 10.
Council’s General Manager, Mr Michael Whittaker, said the budget meets the needs of the Wyong’s growing population and supports the community’s aspirations for Wyong Shire to be a unique place to live, work and visit.
“After driving a $35.5 million turnaround in our operating budget since 2010, we are now in the strongest position we have ever been in to deliver the infrastructure and services that will create jobs and opportunities for our growing community.
“Our $361 million budget for next year is sound, responsible and balanced.
“We are getting back to basics with 75 percent of spending going to the big five services requested by the community – roads and drainage; water, sewerage, open space and waste management.”
Council’s Mayor Doug Eaton OAM said the centrepiece of Council’s budget, is the planned record $66 million spend on roads and drainage, an increase of 30 percent on last year’s budget.
“Our community has told us loudly and clearly, they want better local roads and we are going to deliver it in spades this year.
“I am delighted to say that since 2010 we have more than doubled our spending on roads, from $32 million to $66million, making us the largest spending Council in the state when it comes to roads.
“We have managed to balance the budget at the same time as increase our roads spending, a major achievement.”
Mayor Eaton described the $105 million capital works program as possibly the best in the Shire’s history with exciting projects on track with The Art House to be finished by Christmas and the biggest skate park in NSW designed by the world’s best to be opened next July.
