Exmouth budget gets green light

The Shire of Exmouth is pushing a message of sustainability after it adopted the 2018-19 budget at last week’s council meeting.

Forecast spending and income, including a one per cent rates rise, will leave the Shire with a surplus of $637.

Shire president Matthew Niikkula said after nine months of intense internal review, the council believed this budget was a step towards improved financial sustainability.

“Since we were elected in 2017, both the council and Shire staff have done a power of work to review every aspect of our business units and their operations, our regulatory compliance and the strategic documents that lay the foundation for solid council operations,” he said.

“With this budget we are setting a clear direction for the Shire and the Exmouth community and starting work on achieving the community vision outlined in our strategic community plan, Exmouth 2030.”

The 2018/19 budget includes a $5.122 million capital expenditure program to address recent shortfalls in allocations for asset renewal and upgrades.

Key projects identified in this year’s budget include an additional $177, 203 being transferred to asset preservation and replacement reserves to take total reserves to $6.61 million.

To upgrade Murat Road, $1.75 million will be spent, while $417,000 has been allocated to widen Yardie Creek Road and $192,000 to reseal roads.

Funding has also been allocated for improvements to town footpaths and street lighting and $22,000 has been set aside to build storage facilities for sports clubs at the shared hard courts and install bird deterrents at the facility.

Exmouth’s airport facilities will get funding to improve the runway.