City of Onkaparinga continues record of low rate increases in 2021–22

Council adopted a CPI rate revenue increase (1.2 per cent), plus revenue from new properties (growth), as part of its Annual Business Plan and Budget 2021–22 at Tuesday night’s Special Council meeting, with Mayor Erin Thompson calling it “a plan for our residents and the city’s future”

“I’m proud that our 2021–22 Annual Business Plan and Budget is the first step in implementing our Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP), which guides decision-making to achieve long term financial sustainability,” she said.

“More than 900 residents shared their views with us about our city’s financial future, and we worked hard to adopt a LFTP that reflects what we heard.

“This will see the City of Onkaparinga eliminate its operating deficit over four years, set future rate increases to align with CPI, focus on upgrades and extensions to existing infrastructure rather than new major projects, and importantly, keep delivering the community services important to our residents.”

City of Onkaparinga also endorsed a new Debt Management Strategy on Tuesday night, which guides the transition to a balanced budget by 2024–25 through additional savings of $1.4 million each year.

Some of the major projects to be delivered within the City of Onkaparinga’s $205 million budget include:

• opening the soon to be completed Southern Material Recovery Facility at the SRWRA site in Seaford Heights, to ensure southern councils can process their own recyclables
• redeveloping the Port Noarlunga Wearing Street Precinct, delivering new facilities for existing aquatic user groups, improved and safer river access, upgraded vehicle and trailer parking, and new public toilets and public art. Construction subject to external funding, land transfer and necessary approvals
• constructing a new multi-use sports building at the Port Noarlunga Sports Complex, to support the current and future recreation needs of the community
• investing in the Aldinga Sports Park and new Aldinga Payinithi College indoor recreation and sporting facilities to ensure new, high quality facilities for community use outside of school hours
• upgrading our parks and sports grounds including disability access compliant toilet facilities at the Happy Valley Sports Complex main building, and upgrading Hastings Avenue Reserve, Sellicks Beach, and Godfrey Street Reserve, Darlington
• improving the maintenance program for 1953 hectares of open space, including parks, sports grounds, trees, natural assets, biodiversity, playgrounds and urban furniture
• improving First Nations engagement through the recently established First Nations People Advisory Group
• continuing the successful Go South Go Local campaign and focusing on activation projects for McLaren Vale Main Street and Beach Road, Christies Beach to support local businesses and the grow the local economy
• developing a climate change action plan to set the direction of our future climate change response
• introducing a web chat service to increase the options available to residents to seek information about council services
• continuing to deliver essential services to support vulnerable people in our communities
• bringing back the Christmas Pageant, Tour Down Under and Beachside Food and Wine Festival after they were cancelled or altered last year, to bring the community together and celebrate our great region and its people.

Read the 2021–22 Annual Business Plan and Budget at council’s website.