Recognising the community’s desire for the development of sound infrastructure and improved facilities, Council is also mindful that the local economy has suffered from a prolonged downturn in the sugar industry. Council’s Ten Year Financial Strategy aims to deliver a sustainable and secure future for this rapidly growing City.
“This Strategy identifies Council’s likely activities over the next decade, how those activities will be funded and the cumulative financial impact of that expenditure on the City,” said the Mayor, Councillor Julie Boyd. “This is giving confidence to the community that expenditure and debt levels are being properly managed. The plan balances the community’s desire for improved infrastructure and services against appropriate debt levels and the ability of the community to meet future rate increases.”
Council has also established a Ten Year Capital Works Plan as part of its Financial Strategy. Covering bridges, traffic, drainage, rural and urban roads, water and sewerage, parks, beaches and community facilities, this Ten Year plan is further broken down into Two Year Programs.
“This two year period gives us a longer time for consultation and design in the year prior to the works commencing,” said Stuart Holley, Executive Manager Infrastructure Services. “There is also the added advantage of more time for projects should we encounter a prolonged wet season.”
The Ten Year Program is reviewed annually, with any changes built in every second year to the Two Year Program.
