Community consultation has begun on City of Adelaide’s draft 2024-25 Business Plan and Budget, which proposes a rate increase of an average 5.9 per cent.
Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said consultation was a vital part of the annual business plan and budget process.
“There are many ways to provide feedback, either online or in person,” said the Lord Mayor.
“This year Council is focusing on face-to-face feedback opportunities at Adelaide Central Market, Hutt Street, Hindley Street, Melbourne Street and Pirie Street.”
Key elements of the 2024/25 Draft Business Plan and Budget (DP&B) include:
- Investing more than $110 million into our capital works program, including over $56 million for asset renewal for the $2 billion plus owned Council assets (including roads, footpaths, parks
- and buildings) to ensure compliance with accounting standards
- Committing 1.5 per cent of our rate income to upgrading Park Lands buildings, ensuring sporting clubs and our community have the facilities they need now and for future generations
- Implementing the Mainstreet Revitalisation Program starting upgrades in Hindley Street and using community input to design upgrades for Gouger, O’Connell and Hutt Streets
- Stimulating growth in the city’s economy through major investments such as Market Square and the Council-led property development at 218-232 Flinders Street Focusing on core community services including investing $22.889 million on Park Lands and open space maintenance, $8.325 million on road renewals, $5.377 million into libraries and $5.832 million on waste management
- Leading Adelaide into a climate resilient future with $3.531 million spent on implementing initiatives from our Integrated Climate Strategy.
The Lord Mayor said Council had worked hard over many months to prepare the draft BP&B and have committed to giving the community as many opportunities as possible to provide feedback.
“Throughout this process we have been considering a range of scenarios but, put simply, if we stuck to the status quo, plus added in all the budget bids aligned to the strategic plan and newly adopted strategies, as well as funding some elected member projects, a huge rate increase would have been needed,” said the Lord Mayor.
