Published on 28 June 2023

Council budget adopted

City of Onkaparinga elected members approved a $230 million budget for 2023–24 at last night's Council meeting.

According to Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were, the council’s budget and Annual Business Plan have struck a careful balance between meeting long-term sustainability and the community’s needs and expectations.

“We know the community is feeling the impact of cost-of-living pressures, and the council is feeling those same pressures in the costs of services and materials,” she said.

“So, we worked hard to find $8.34 million in savings and limited the increase in rates to the March 2023 CPI figure of 7.9 per cent, lower than the 8.6 per cent initially proposed.

“This presents a realistic and sustainable budget that ensures we can continue to deliver the services, projects and events our community needs and expects.”

The 2023–24 budget supports ongoing council services such as waste, roads, footpaths, lighting, parks and trails, libraries, arts, bushfire prevention, community programs and economic development.

Major projects planned for the year include:

• $6.5 million in sport and recreation projects including the Noarlunga United Soccer clubroom, Aldinga Oval changerooms, Aldinga Sports Park, Knox Park, and Aldinga skate park, plus a $5.2 million redevelopment of the Paul Murray Recreation Centre
• Refurbishment of the Hopgood Theatre
• A Minkarra Park link path, the $4 million Willunga to Aldinga shared-use path, and $4.2 million development of the Port Willunga Coast Park
• Expansion of the Aberfoyle Park Community Centre
• Road safety upgrades to Flour Mill Road Aldinga, Old Coach Road Maslin Beach and a number of McLaren Vale intersections
• Development of a coastal adaptation plan, and planting of 6000 trees
• Implementation of the Beach Road Tourism Action Plan in Christies Beach.

Input on the council’s draft ABP and Budget was sought from the community from 21 April to 15 May. Community interest was high, with 571 residents providing feedback.

Submissions offered a range of views on the delivery of services including roads and footpaths, major works, libraries, and sport and recreation.

As a result of community feedback, the council has reviewed its Financial Hardship Policy in relation to rates, and is considering options to better assist those in hardship.

If rising living costs are causing you genuine hardship, please call council's Customer Relations team on 8384 0666.

Subject to eligibility, you can access support measures including payment plans and postponement of rates for seniors. More information on rate rebates, hardship and other relief is available on council’s website.