Project objective

The Annual Budget 2023-24 outlines the services and initiatives to be funded for the next financial year.

Following Council’s in-principle approval of the proposed Annual Budget 2023-24 on 18 April 2023, community members and project stakeholders are encouraged to provide their feedback on the proposed Budget between 19 April and 9 May 2023 for the consideration of Council.

Community consultation on the Annual Budget is conducted in accordance with the Local Government Act 2020 and Council’s Community and Stakeholder Engagement Policy 2021.


Project impacts

Council’s proposed Annual Budget 2023-24 is informed by the Bayside 2050 Community Vision, the Council Plan 2021 – 2025 and Financial Plan 2021-31. The Budget funds services and initiatives Council has committed to deliver.

The proposed $179.6 million budget commits Council to action in four key areas over the next 12 months:

  • Our Planet – leading better, smarter and sustainable futures
  • Our People – nurturing all people and thriving healthy communities
  • Our Place – fostering Bayside’s liveability, open spaces and exceptional places
  • Our Promise – promising open and accountable civic leadership.

The ambitious agenda delivered by this budget will be funded by a rate increase of 3.5%, which is in accordance with the Victorian Government’s rate cap. This rate increase is essential for the continuation of our community services and capital investment.

The waste service charge incorporating kerbside collection and recycling is not subject to the rate cap legislation and will increase by 2.2% driven largely by the increase in the State Government landfill levy, an increase in hard waste collections, increased recycling processing costs, and increased green waste and garbage collection and disposal costs.

Around half of the proposed budget is earmarked to deliver important community infrastructure via $68.5 million in capital works. This continues Council’s multi-year program to address historic under-investment and is enabled by continuing strong financial management.


Highlights

  • Investment in our Aged Care Services so we can expand to the delivery of Home Care Packages to meet the increasing needs of our ageing community.
  • Taking action on Climate Change by implementing the Climate Emergency Action Plan and the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction project.
  • Continuing the transformation of Elsternwick Park Nature Reserve into a natural urban oasis to benefit thousands of Baysiders and visitors for years to come.
  • Upgrades to footpaths, roads and drainage, foreshore and parks, and sports pavilions to support accessibility, recreation, and liveability in Bayside.

What key initiatives are included in this year’s budget?

The Annual Budget 2023/24 includes the following key initiatives:

  • Public Toilet Strategy Review
  • Content Discovery Engine
  • GIS Strategy
  • Bayside Lake Management Plan
  • Bayside Open Space Strategy Review
  • Hampton Hub Negotiations
  • Innovate RAP Implementation
  • Conservation Management Plans Historical Buildings
  • Billilla Activation
  • Municipal-wide flood modelling
  • Park Improvement and Habitat Linkage Plan
  • Coastal and Marine Management Plan
  • Biodiversity Action Plan


Deferred projects

There are no significant deferrals of plans, programs or capital works in this year’s proposed budget.


What information do we need from the community?

We are engaging with our community to seek feedback on Council’s Proposed Annual Budget 2023-24.


What can the community influence?

What can’t the community influence?

  • Legislative requirement for Council to adopt Annual Budget 2023-24 by 30 June 2023
  • Council operations, resource allocation and projects Council has resolved to deliver
  • Waste charge: direct cost recovery due the increase in the State Government landfill levy, an increase in hard waste collections, increased recycling processing costs, and increased green waste and garbage collection and disposal costs.


Stakeholders and community

This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.

  • Impact: What level of change the stakeholder / community segment may experience as a result of the project / matter
  • Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated
  • Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum

Stakeholder / community

Impact

Interest

Influence

General Bayside community

L

L

Consult

Individual community members with broad interests in the business of Council and governance

L

H

Consult

Organisations/groups/individuals affected by rescheduled projects

H

H

Consult

Stakeholders with new projects financed through Annual Budget 2023-24

H

H

Consult

Stakeholder groups/associations/organisations

L

M

Consult

Local businesses/traders

L

M

Consult


Selected tools and techniques

The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought.

Key tools for communicating the project

  • Email notification to Have Your Say members, including those who subscribe to projects affected by this year’s budget.
  • Council website and e-newsletter, This Week in Bayside
  • Social media
  • Video and/or infographics
  • Digital screens in Corporate Centre and libraries

Key methods for gathering feedback

  • Have Your Say project webpage, including feedback forms and opportunities to ask questions
  • Post, phone and email correspondence.

Project timelines

Proposed Annual Budget 2023-24 endorsed by Council - 18 April 2023 Council meeting

Community consultation - 19 April - 9 May 2023

Adoption of Annual Budget 2023-24: Council to consider community feedback at its 6 June briefing meeting and adoption of Annual Budget 2023-24 on 27 June 2023


Decision-making process

The Annual Budget 2023-24 is informed by community priorities articulated in the Bayside 2050 Community Vision and Council Plan 2021-2025.

Following the close of community engagement on 9 May 2023, community and stakeholder feedback will be considered and amendments made to the proposed Budget, if required.

Council will consider a report on community engagement on the Budget on the 6 June 2023 briefing and adopt the proposed Annual Budget 2023-24 at its meeting on 27 June 2023. The agenda for this meeting will be available to view here when published.

Interested community members will also have an opportunity to request to be heard at the Council meeting on 27 June 2023 and speak to Council at the meeting or provide a written statement which will be published in the meeting agenda.

Under the Local Government Act 2020, Council must adopt an annual budget by 30 June 2023.


More information

For more information about this project please contact Bill Shanahan, Finance Manager, on 03 9599 4340 or bshanahan@bayside.vic.gov.au