By Violet Li
Casey Council has recorded a surplus of $272m with $45.5m favourable to budget in the first half of the 2023/24 fiscal year, according to its Quarterly Community Report.
The report stated operating expenses of $214m, three per cent over the half-year budget, while the revenue delivered $486m, 12 per cent higher than the expected amount – predominantly due to developer contributions received, and a timing difference with disposal of assets, the report said.
One new contract over $5m was awarded during the quarter to Logicalis Australia for IT Infrastructure Program services.
Casey’s remaining contracts greater than $5m were awarded for open space maintenance, asphalt resurfacing of various roads, and animal pound services.
The 2023/24 Capital Works program featured an investment of $149.2m to deliver approximately 358 projects.
The report noted that the program was running behind schedule due to “economic, construction industry, and other adverse conditions”, despite numerous projects completed during the quarter.
The actual expenditure was $61m, 9.4 per cent lower than the quarter budget, accounting for 41.4 per cent of the annual budget.
Council delivered $11m in roadworks at 28.2 per cent lower than the estimated cost, $3m in drainage at 46 per cent lower than the budget, $24m in recreational, leisure, and community facilities at 24 per cent lower than the budget, and $2m in parks, open space, and streetscapes at 31.8 per cent lower than the budget.
The report highlighted several completed and progressing projects, including Clyde Recreation Reserve, Max Pawsey Oval Reconstruction in Narre Warren, Robert Booth Reserve pavilion redevelopment and tennis court and lighting renewal in Hampton Park, Casey Fields Cricket Ovals 4 & 5 Pavilion upgrade in Cranbourne East, and road construction at Ballarto Road-South Gippsland Highway intersection.
Casey administrator Cameron Boardman said at a council meeting on 20 February that it was worthwhile noting that in the October-December quarter, the council had over 30,000 people visit and engage on the Casey Conversations page and received 1892 submissions about the 20 major projects.
“That measure alone indicates that we are as effectively as we possibly can communicating with the community to seek their feedback on areas of vital community interest, not just as it relates to the capital works, forward plan, and the projects that are contained within that, but also general information to the community as a whole related to council decisions,” he said.
“We are having an ongoing discussion internally as to how we can improve that engagement with the community, not just through Casey Conversations, but other digital and other channels.
“And that is something that we’re very much looking forward to informing the community in due course of how we are tracking progress on that matter and how, once again, more effectively we can communicate with the community accordingly.”
