Cardinia sets $82 million capital works program in budget

Roads, drainage and paths will be a major focus of an $82.3 million capital works program adopted by Cardinia Shire council in its 2024-2025 budget.
Council has allocated $21.7 million for asset renewals and upgrades mainly comprising roads, drains and pathways, and a further $9.3 million to continue its "Sealing the Hills" program.
The capital works include projects valued at $21 million that have been carried over from the current year.
Cardinia prepares four-year rolling budgets that are reviewed annually to deliver priorities in its council plan.
Mayor Jack Kowarzik said public feedback to its draft budget invited in April and May had led to a number of changes including a capital grant of $300,000 for Koo wee rup netball club that has been brought forward by a year and $500,000 from council's strategic reserves to complete storm debris clean up.
General rates revenue will increase by $2.75 per cent in line the the state government's rate cap.
Cr Kowarzik said the budget would enable council to deliver values services, projects and infrastructure for the community while ensuring it remained financially sustainable in the long term.
The overarching objective was to keep rates and charges as affordable as possible for the community at a time of cost of living increases, he said.
"We have worked hard to develop a budget that meets the needs of the community while working within the constraints of limited revenue sources and the rate cap," the mayor added.