Infrastructure ‘black hole’ looms

CASEY is Victoria’s largest municipality, and its mayor wants to see the State and Federal governments work together to expedite infrastructure funds.
Mayor Sam Aziz is calling for a partnership to address “the infrastructure back log”, and it comes off the back of Australian Bureau of Statistics, figures revealing Cranbourne East as the nation’s fastest growing suburb.
“With nearly 300,000 residents, Casey is the largest municipality in Victoria,” Cr Aziz said.
“By 2041 Casey will be home to 490,000 residents, that’s the equivalent of two times the capacity of the MCG over the next 25 years.
And it’s the region’s inability to cater for its sporting clubs that’s got Cr Aziz crunching numbers.
“Casey’s leisure and sporting needs alone will require an additional $446 million of infrastructure investment over the next 20 years,” he said.
Cr Aziz said the Victorian Government’s rate cap would put strain on growth areas such as Casey.
“Council’s financial modelling shows the Victorian Government’s imposed rate cap will leave a $168 million shortfall over the next 10 years in Casey,” he said.
The City of Casey has applied to the Essential Services Commission for a rate cap variation of 0.97 per cent, or $14 per household.
Cr Aziz said a “rate variation is the most responsible action in order to shield the community from a future infrastructure black hole and service level cuts.”
“We consulted our community late last year, and while we acknowledge that most residents prefer council work within the rate cap, taking the easy route and accepting the rate cap will start a snowball effect of vital community projects being delayed or even abandoned.
“A little bit extra now, in a planned, sustainable way, will cost ratepayers less than big hikes down the track when it gets to crisis point, or worse, even having some essential community infrastructure delayed for a generation or not provided at all.”