Move FM Regional news

Lithgow Council looks to locals for their ideas

Aug 4, 2018

People in the City of Lithgow are being are being asked to take part in an Asset Management Study to better inform the Council on how they think it should prioritise expenditure.

The study follows the recent telephone survey undertaken by Micromex Research on behalf of Council.

Lithgow Council looks after roads, bridges, parks, playgrounds and buildings. It wants to understand residents’ thoughts on how they should continue to look after these assets now and into the future.

Residents are being asked:

– Whether they are happy with the current quality of services
– What state they think its assets, including roads, bridges, parks, playgrounds etc., should be in
– What they believe are the asset funding priorities for the future

“We need a clear mandate for future spending, based on the community’s views on acceptable asset conditions. This is why Council wants your thoughts on its proposal to invest in the maintenance and renewal of our community assets and how this should be funded” General Manager, Graeme Faulkner (pictured), said Friday.

Council will be applying to IPART for a Special Rate Variation (SRV) of 9% in 2019/20. This will extend the current SRV of 4.77% (which ends in 2018/19) with an increase of 4.23%. A new Special Rate Variation would improve Council’s financial sustainability, fund infrastructure renewals and fund asset maintenance. The proposed SRV will enable Council to meet all of the Fit for the Future measures during the 10 year term of the Long Term Financial Plan.

The only alternative to a Special Rate Variation is to make further cuts to services to deliver a balanced budget, consistent with ‘Fit for the Future’ requirements.

“Your feedback will directly influence Council’s future decision making on how we spend money on community assets such as roads, bridges, parks, playgrounds and buildings” added the General Manager.

Locals can download and read the Investing in our Future – Asset Management Survey booklet and then complete the Survey online.

Submissions close on Friday 10 August 2018.

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