By NATALIE GALLENTI
MELTON residents have given a scathing response to Melton City Council’s draft budget 2013/14.
Members of the Cambridge, Coburn and Watts Residents Association last week unanimously moved a motion to reject the current draft budget.
President of the CCWRA Nathan Miles said his group rejected the budget because members thought it was unfair.
In a statement to Star, Mr Miles said the motion came after a review of the budget found that certain suburbs were excluded or were offered very little in the budget.
“The budget is clearly not fair or equitable to all residents,” Mr Miles said.
“Suburbs like Caroline Springs, Hillside, Taylors Hill, Burnside and Burnside Heights, have been given next to nothing in new services, projects, and capital works.
“Diggers Rest and Rockbank have been forgotten.”
Mr Miles said the previous budget was more balanced and responded to the needs of the community.
“This year’s budget has shockingly failed and neglected the eastern corridor, where there is a high demand and need for further infrastructure and services due to the continuing growth.”
He said the residents’ group had received numerous phone calls from disappointed residents who believe the council has failed them.
In its statement the CCWRA highlighted a number of what it believes are shortcomings in the draft budget including the playground replacement program budget being slashed by more than half from $150,000 to $50,000 this year, annual road resurfacing budget cut by almost half to $1 million and the major traffic management upgrade program budget reduced to $200,000.
“It was also discovered that essential service programs have been slashed yet, despite this, council is proposing a rate increase of 4 per cent.
“The pensioner rebate amount was also determined to not be enough.”
