Published on Wednesday, 2 August 2023 at 11:36:51 AM
At a Special Meeting of Council held last night, the Denmark Shire Council voted to adopt the 2023/2024 Annual Budget, giving the greenlight to a budget focused on funding tangible progress on community priorities identified in Our Future 2033, the Shire’s newly adopted Strategic Community Plan.
In her President’s Message, Denmark Shire President Ceinwen Gearon said the budget comes in the wake of the major review in 2022/2023 of the Shire’s strategic vision and that community members can expect to see a specific effort to allocate resourcing in alignment with the focus areas our community has identified as priorities.
Of the six community priorities outlined in Our Future 2033, three fall within the Shire’s service delivery capacity and, as such, have received additional budget support in 2023/2024.
The relevant community priority areas are:
- Local roads and storm water drainage
- Services and facilities for youth
- Environmental conservation and protection
Included within the 23/24 budget is an additional $200,000 for the road maintenance program which will assist in the annual effort to maintain and upgrade the Shire’s more than 600km road network. Upgrades are also planned to roads spread from the Shire’s eastern boundary to the west, including Kernuts, Parker, Mt Shadforth, Mt Lindesay, Hazelvale, Conspicuous Beach and Bastiani roads.
Increased funding has also been allocated to focus on youth services and facilities with the design stage of the Berridge Park revitalisation project already underway, in addition to funding support allocated to turning the much-talked about Turner Road site into a mountain bike trails hub.
The future of McLean House will also return to a youth focus in 2023/24 in response to substantial community feedback about the need for a dedicated youth support space in our Shire.
Funding for the development of a Youth Strategy has also been given the go-ahead, meaning community development work can ramp up in that space in the months ahead.
In addition to a specific focus on community priorities in 2023/24, the Shire will continue working towards achieving Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan commitments, while also delivering on improved and increased public amenities and facilities at Peaceful Bay, Nornalup, Prawn Rock Channel and Ocean Beach.
More details on upcoming projects will be made available in the coming weeks and months.
Important Links:
Annual Budget 2023/24: https://www.denmark.wa.gov.au/documents/corporate-and-community-documents-and-forms/budget-documents
Strategic Community Plan Our Future 2033: https://www.yourdenmark.wa.gov.au/lets-talk
Sustainability Strategy: https://www.denmark.wa.gov.au/residents/sustainability-and-biodiversity/sustainability.aspx
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