Randwick Council budget big on community value with record $85M capital works program
- Published Date
- 29/04/2021
- News Topic
- Council
Randwick Council is set to deliver its largest ever capital works program with $85M planned on new projects, upgrades and improvements for the community.
This includes new sporting facilities, splash parks, community buildings, outdoor gyms, tree plantings, playgrounds and arts centres.
The plans are part of Council’s 2021-22 draft Operational Plan & Budget which were released today, 29 April 2021, for public exhibition and comment.
The $180.8M Budget continues essential services and programs for the community while also taking advantage of a range of government grants and borrowings to deliver high quality community facilities.
Rates will increase by the State Government set rate peg of 2% while the Domestic Waste Management Charge (which covers the cost of residential red, yellow and green bin collection, providing seven kerbside clean-ups per household and running the Randwick Recycling Centre) will increase by a modest $19.35 to $624.10 per property.
“Randwick Council, like most organisations, has not been immune from the effects of COVID-19,” says Randwick Mayor Danny Said.
“While our revenue is forecast to remain slightly down, this Budget is about getting us back on track doing what we do best – delivering for our community.
“It’s a strong, considered and balanced budget with a record capital works spend meeting all seven of the Office of Local Government’s financial performance benchmarks for NSW councils.”
The largest project set to commence construction is the $58M Heffron Centre in Maroubra. This project will see the demolition of two 1940s era warehouses and construction of new state-of-the-art facilities including an indoor sports centre and a gymnastics centre.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs will also be located in the building - moving their headquarters, operations and Souths Cares community outreach from their spiritual home of Redfern to their supporter heartland of Maroubra.
Funding for the Heffron Centre includes $26M in government grants and Rabbitohs contribution and $19M in borrowings by Randwick Council as part of its Our Community Our Future program. This takes advantage of record low interest rates and ensures the ratepayers of today benefit from the facilities they’re funding.
Other projects proposed in the Budget include:
- A new $1.5M splash park at Des Renford Leisure Centre in Maroubra
- A new arts centre and exhibition space at historic Blenheim House in Randwick
- 33 road upgrade projects to resheet 3.4km of local roads
- 47 footpath upgrade projects to improve 2.8km of footpath in Randwick City
- A new youth and cultural hall in Matraville
- New outdoor gyms in Maroubra and Matraville
- New synthetic playing field at Coral Sea Park in Maroubra
- Design work for an upgrade to the Heffron Park criterion cycling track
- New decking around Malabar and Mahon Ocean Pools
- Four playground upgrades in Randwick, Malabar and Kensington
- Traffic signals at the accident blackspot intersection of Anzac Parade and Franklin St in Malabar
- New permanent toilets to replace the temporary facilities at Dunningham Reserve on the northern headland of Coogee Beach.
“In addition to our extensive capital works program, our Council staff will continue offering the same high quality services that our residents deserve – treating the City of Randwick with the same pride that our residents do their own homes,” explains Mayor Said.
“Our events program is backing and we will provide a range of engaging and vibrant COVID-safe events to immerse our community in our shared vision of ‘a sense of community’.”
Randwick General Manager Therese Manns said the considered and balanced decision-making of the Mayor and Councillors over the past year has meant Council has been able to weather the financial shock of COVID while supporting our community.
“Through these decisions, Randwick City Council was not only able to continue to support our community in ways we hadn’t contemplated before, but we were able to weather the financial shock and remain sustainable,” says Ms Manns.
The 2021-22 draft Operational Plan, Budget and Fees & Charges are on public exhibition from 29 April to 27 May 2021.
To find out more about the 2021-22 draft Operational Plan & Budget, how it affects your suburb and to have your say, visit www.yoursay.randwick.nsw.gov.au or view the documents at Council’s Administration Centre located at 30 Frances Street, Randwick.
FIND OUT WHAT PROJECTS ARE PLANNED FOR YOUR AREA:
- Clovelly
- Coogee
- Kensington & Kingsford
- La Perouse, Chifley, Phillip Bay & Little Bay
- Malabar
- Maroubra
- Matraville
- Randwick
Media enquiries:
Joshua Hay – 0402 351 459 or joshua.hay@randwick.nsw.gov.au
Chelsea Hunter - 0419 694 983 or chelsea.hunter@randwick.nsw.gov.au