Council Plan and Budget adopted following extensive consultation

Published on 05 July 2021

Frankston City Councillors have formally adopted the Council Plan and Budget following extensive community consultation and engagement to seek vital feedback and input.

Councillors voted at the 28 June Council Meeting to adopt the 2021 – 2025 Council Plan and Budget.

Council worked in partnership with the community to shape this year’s Budget, undertaking a robust and inclusive deliberative engagement process involving pop-up events, face-to-face and online forums, surveys, the hearing of public submissions and an extensive social media campaign.

These initiatives garnered over 1,200 comments by more than 500 residents. In a first for Council, a pre-Budget survey was also held in April, allowing locals to provide feedback at the crucial planning stages.

Mayor Kris Bolam said adoption of the Council Plan and Budget follows extensive planning and consultation during the past 12 months, to ensure the delivery of critical projects and support diverse community needs.

The Mayor said as part of the extensive consultation, all 23 people who made submissions on the Budget will be contacted to acknowledge their valuable contributions and ideas.

“After careful consideration of all submissions, the adopted Budget includes amendments with funding for the Frankston Music Community Network ($28,000), a contribution to the Peninsula Link access footpath ($25,000) and funding to PGA Australia towards the Golf Learning Hub, subject to agreed deliverables and milestones demonstrating tangible progress of the project to Council’s satisfaction ($60,000),” Mayor Bolam said.

Councillors also voted to fund $20,000 for enhanced initiatives under the Women’s Spirit Project – a grassroots, volunteer-led initiative which aims to inspire and empower women experiencing disadvantage to transform their lives through fitness, health and wellbeing activities – on the proviso that Mornington Peninsula Shire Council matches the funding. 

Mayor Bolam said the Budget includes $1.1 million in ratepayer reward vouchers, adding: “It’s been a hard 18 months and we think our ratepayers deserve a reward. As part of the initiative, Frankston City ratepayers will be able to choose from one of three offers, including discounted Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre (PARC) and Frankston Arts Centre vouchers, or a discount on an at-call hard waste collection.

“Frankston Arts Centre and PARC are much-loved and utilised Council-owned facilities. The rewards program gives ratepayers the opportunity to experience them for the first time or for regular patrons to continue to enjoy them at a reduced price. The option of a discount on an at-call hard waste collection will also assist households who wish to utilise the service.

“Full details, including how to redeem your reward will be available in your 2021–2022 Annual Rate and Valuation Notice expected to hit letterboxes in the second half of August this year,” the Mayor said.

This is the first time Council has issued vouchers since the late 1990s when they were made available to assist residents during the economic crisis of that period.

Mayor Bolam said the Budget provides nearly $260 million to fund service delivery and key projects including $65 million for Frankston City’s Capital Works Program.

The Mayor added that amendments since the public Budget submission process include $50,000 (capital one-off cost) towards the Frankston Park Grandstand design and $50,000 (capital one-off cost) towards the Lighting Strategy design 2021-2022 to explore fairy/bud lighting for trees.

Mayor Bolam said: “Frankston City is one of the highest infrastructure spending Councils in the region. We have an ambitious program including the almost $35 million Jubilee Park Stadium upgrade.”

Other major infrastructure projects include:

• Monterey Reserve Pavilion ($3.3 million with $2.7 million Council contribution).

• Pat Rollo Reserve Pavilion – ($2.35 million with $850,000 Council contribution)

• Frankston Revitalisation Action Plan ($2.875 million with $705,000 Council contribution).

The 2021-2022 Capital Works Program includes a huge range of projects including the Playground Implementation Program ($2.2 million), Sporting Grounds – Playing Surface Renewal Program ($1.3 million), Evelyn Park open space ($1.2 million), Sports Lighting Program ($905,000), PARC Solar PV ($680,000), Ballam Park Athletic Precinct Track Redevelopment ($650,000), Local Area Traffic Management in Seaford Precinct ($600,000) and the Sculpture and Public Artwork Development Program ($585,000).

Council will also invest $34.5 million in the maintenance of municipal infrastructure including roads ($9.3 million), bridges ($200,000), footpaths and bicycle paths ($3.2 million), drainage ($1.1 million), parks, open spaces and streetscapes ($10.8 million), recreation, leisure and community facilities ($6.8 million), waste management ($560,000), other infrastructure ($2.0 million) and off street car parks ($430,000).

“Council is also committed to maintain the condition of community assets through asset renewal totalling $23.76 million,” the Mayor said.

Mayor Bolam added ratepayers will not see cuts to services, adding: “It’s a very strong Budget with an emphasis on supporting our community through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Budget includes a $3.86 million Relief and Recovery Package to assist the community through the recovery phase post pandemic. This includes a $500,000 grant to key charity Community Support Frankston to provide critical aid to the most vulnerable in Frankston City.”

The $3.86 million takes Frankston City’s COVID-19 Relief and Recovery supports for residents, businesses, community and sporting organisations to $9.128 million.

Other Budget highlights include a $19.024 million surplus – mainly used to fund capital works – and a rate rise of 1.5 per cent for general rates and municipal charges in line with the State Government rate cap.

The Mayor said the Budget also highlights Council’s commitment to our precious environment and sustainability, adding: “In 2020/21 Council planted 10,000 trees in streets, parks and natural reserves. The new budget provides $200,000 additional funding to increase this target to 20,000 trees per year.

“Planting plans will ensure species planted are suitable to the local character and site conditions and prioritise areas identified with insufficient canopy cover.”

Mayor Bolam said this will complement other major ‘greening’ projects in Frankston City including the Jubilee Park Stadium development, which features the planting of a minimum of 300 trees both within the site and within the broader Park area.

It will also complement a separate greening project at the Fletcher Rd overpass – a key gateway to Frankston. This project delivers on Frankston’s Urban Forest Action Plan with significant landscape improvements on the north and south sides of the overpass.

The initiative will contribute to a greener Frankston with increased indigenous plants and trees, a new smart irrigation system, new seating and design elements to improve storm water quality and drainage.

Mayor Bolam said: “Our Council Plan and Budget set out the four year vision for the City and the outcomes Council wants to achieve over that period. These outcomes align with key focus areas identified by the Community Panel in the Frankston City Community Vision 2040.

“Our Council Plan identifies key priorities and initiatives aimed at working towards the six future outcomes that will set the strategic direction for Frankston City. The key outcomes include healthy and safe communities, community strength, sustainable environment, well planned and liveable City, thriving economy and progressive and engaged City,” the Mayor said.

The Mayor praised the collaborative approach taken by Councillors, adding the work of Council Chief Financial Officer, Kim Jaensch, Manager Financial and Corporate Planning, Simone Wickes, and Coordinator Integrated Planning and Reporting, Laura Smith, has been critical to delivering the Council Plan and Budget.

South Ward Cr Brad Hill described the Budget as a team effort, noting it funds a range of essential services including Meals on Wheels, kindergartens, sporting facilities and more.

North East Ward Cr Suzette Tayler said: “Our Budget is about giving the best to our community. People depend on these services.”

Ms Jaensch said the Budget acknowledges the importance of providing services for people at all stages of life. “The Budget provides essential funds for maintaining our infrastructure, community facilities and parks, operating our libraries, events, festivals and art centre as well as rubbish and recycling collections,” Ms Jaensch said.