Carefully balancing economic pressures and long-term financial sustainability are at the core of Council’s 2023/24 Draft Annual Community Plan with record high inflation driving Council to keep a conservative approach towards this year’s budget.

Council endorsed the 2023/24 Draft Annual Community Plan at last night’s Council meeting for community consultation.

Mayor Rodney Reid said Council was focused on delivering core projects from Council’s Wakefield 2030 Community Plan.

Despite operating pressures rising with the Adelaide consumer price index reaching 7.9%, Council proposes to deliver exciting projects throughout 2023/24.

“Activating Port Wakefield as a tourism and lifestyle destination remains at the centre of this year’s plan with $1.119M proposed to activate Edward Street and deliver stage one of the master plan,” Mayor Rodney Reid said.

“Grant funding from the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program will deliver $619K of funding towards stage one of the Master Plan, which will activate Edward Street with road renewals, artwork, accessibility features and landscaping all helping enhance the street.”

While Council is activating Edward Street, the Tidal Swimming Pool will also be in the limelight with a proposed budget of $200K to dredge the silt build up out of the popular tourist attraction.

Mayor Reid said combining both Edward Street and the dredging of the pool will activate the precinct from Edward Street to the Tidal Swimming Pool and onward to the caravan park.

Major upgrades to South Terrace Blyth are also proposed, which will see key sections of the street upgraded to accommodate greener spaces, new kerbing and stormwater management, while also delivering improvements to Mugge’s Court.

These beautifications and upgrades will total $923K with $350K of funding support from the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.

Detailed design for the construction of Dale Street and the implementation of a stormwater system in Townsvale Estate, Balaklava, also commenced throughout 2022/23 with construction works to begin in 2023/24.

“Council has proposed to invest $331K for new stormwater infrastructure alongside $241K for the construction of Dale Street at the centre of Townsvale Estate,” Mayor Reid said.

The draft plan proposes a capital budget of $11.02M to deliver Wakefield 2030 priority projects which consists of $7.56M in capital renewal works and $3.46M in new capital works.

“At the forefront of Council’s capital budget is the renewal of 4.94km of sealed roads and 74.52km of unsealed roads,” Mayor Reid said.

In the delivery of the Annual Community Plan for 2023/24, Council has proposed an overall general rate rise of 6.5%, which is below Adelaide’s March quarter CPI of 7.9%.

Council will target an operating deficit of $1.17M in 2023/24 due to operating revenues of $18.46M and operating expenses of $19.62M.

Increased road maintenance costs of $353K, dredging the tidal pool $200K, repositioning the Port Wakefield and Balaklava Caravan Parks $100K and additional community wastewater management system maintenance $105K, have all contributed to operating costs.

“Not increasing general rates directly in line with CPI will also have a negative impact of $135K for this financial year,” Mayor Reid said.

Feedback is also being sought on Council’s Long-Term Financial Plan which is reviewed each year and captures the changes in financial circumstances, facilitates financial adjustments and ensures the plan remains on track.

Both the Draft Community Plan and Long-Term Financial Plan will be open for community consultation until 6pm, Wednesday June 28 2023:

Council will dedicate an hour at its Wednesday, June 28 Council meeting to hear feedback from the public, alternatively you can leave your feedback by;

* By email – to admin@wrc.sa.gov.au

* By mail – to PO Box 167, Balaklava SA 5461

* By website – wrc.sa.gov.au

Hard copies are available on request or from post offices in Balaklava, Blyth, Hamley Bridge, Owen, Port Wakefield, Snowtown and Brinkworth or from Council’s Balaklava office

View the draft plan online here