By Bridie Byrne
WYNDHAM ratepayers have failed to submit any pre-budget submissions, leaving them without a vital say on where their money is spent.
The council had called on the city’s 142,000 residents late last year to have a voice in shaping the draft budget.
Former mayor Shane Bourke last year said the process was the ideal platform to put forward ideas for the municipality’s future in 2010/11.
People who made a submission could have also made a presentation during a council forum.
The council was forced to change its draft 2009/10 budget after a barrage of community anger.
Residential rates fell from 6.34 per cent to 5.25 per cent, commercial rates slipped from 6.35 per cent to 5.26 per cent and industrial rates dropped 21.54 per cent to 12.78 per cent.
Key industry figures had meetings last year with council executives and councillors to bring their high rates to a head.
The council bowed to the pressure to fund the industry workers long-term plan.
The Laverton North industrial precinct is now set to reap millions over the next five years to upgrade the neglected sector.
It was revealed that $2 million will be spent to pave footpaths, create kerbs and channels and plant trees across the industry wasteland.
The council had allocated $400,000 towards the overhaul in the 2009/2010 budget.
There will be $1,640,438 spent on footpaths, $152,380 on kerb and channel works and $640,044 on tree planting over the time frame.
An investigation has revealed the precinct was in desperate need of footpaths as worn pedestrian tracks were scattered throughout the area.
The draft budget will be tabled at a council meeting in June.
