The council voted to release the $45.5 million budget, with a rate rise of 2.25 per cent, for public comment at its monthly meeting on Tuesday night. The rise is in line with state government rate capping.

Moyne’s director of community and corporate support Kevin Leddin said the council was in a strong financial position.

He explained the average ratepayer who paid about $1600 on their yearly rates would incur an increase of about $24.75.

The kerbside collection service charge will increase by 4.3 per cent ($14.50) and the waste facility service charge by 3.9 per cent (50 cents).

Mr Leddin said the waste increases were far less than what was being predicted by metropolitan councils, which was around $50 to $60 extra, per household.  

The increases come as uncertainty continues around recycling costs in Australia. China has refused to take the nation’s recycling materials, and the state government is scrambling for a resolution.

The draft budget includes $14.1 million in capital works and asset renewal, including $8 million on the council’s road network. 

It proposes a new hall facility attached to the Garvoc CFA facility worth $625,000, $20,000 worth of pool improvement works at Macarthur, a gravel footpath from the public toilets to the Nullawarre Primary School ($140,000) and an extension of the existing netball change rooms at Panmure ($220,000).

Other new initiatives in the budget include a $180,000 Port Fairy drainage study, a $30,000 visitor signage strategy and $40,000 for Port Fairy’s south beach inundation mitigation. 

Works at Koroit include youth space landscaping and pathways ($78,100), Victoria Park oval restorations and a new mower ($51,000) and the construction of a footpath on Black Street ($102,000). 

Cr Jim Doukas said it was a “fair budget”.

“You can’t please all of the people all of the time, but I think it gives everyone in the shire a fair go,” he said.

Cr Daniel Meade invited ratepayers to have a say on the budget. Cr Jordan Lockett said there was exciting capital works and asset renewal projects to be undertaken.

“You are the ratepayer, and we are working for you,” he said at the meeting.