By VANESSA CHIRCOP
HOBSONS Bay City Council has gone ahead with plans to increase rates by an average of 6.3 per cent, adopting the 2012/2013 budget last week.
This is despite some controversy when initially announced in April, with councillors Angela Altair and Peter Hemphill voting against the steep rise.
The budget was passed unanimously at last week’s meeting.
But it wouldn’t have been a Hobsons Bay council meeting without controversy.
At the end of the meeting under Urgent and Other Business a motion was passed to “reshuffle” funds to allocate an additional $60,000 to upgrade Kim Reserve by decreasing funding to other projects in Altona.
Some $4,000 was also allocated out of the operational budget to the Migrant Resource Centre.
As reported by Star previously, Altona City Soccer Club members were up in arms after the council banned them from training at Fell Reserve.
The funding reshuffle will increase funding to Kim Reserve to $100,000 but be at the expense of Altona Rd, Cherry Lake, Altona Sports Precinct, Altona Foreshore, Ransom Reserve and Altona Yacht Club projects.
Cr Altair said the unconventional motion caused her discomfort.
“In my memory this is the first time we’ve dipped into the operational budget to satisfy a particular group,” she said.
Hobsons Bay mayor Tony Briffa said the budget would ensure the council could continue to provide the community with high quality services, facilities and infrastructure.
“The council is proud of what it will deliver in 2012/2013 with big ticket items such as the design of the Newport Library, Youth and Senior Citizens Centre; completion of the Laverton Community Hub,
Williamstown Library and Williamstown Town Hall redevelopment; further works on the implementation of the future directions plan at Laverton Park; the next stage of the Cherry Lake picnic and play area upgrade and sensory garden installation; further road works at Paisley Park; further implementation of the Altona Foreshore Strategy; Altona Central Sports Precinct Plan; and the continuation of remediation works at Madigan Reserve,” Cr Briffa said.
