Maribyrnong City Council aims to deliver a responsible and balanced budget that maintains excellence in service delivery, provides a strong capital program and is responsive to the growing needs of our community.

The Budget has been developed in line with Council’s Long Term Financial Strategy and the Council Plan 2017-21 to ensure a sustainable future.

The Proposed Annual Budget 2020-21 of $149.7 million includes a robust capital program valued at $52.241 million.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

A total of $1,037,903 has been proposed for the 2020/21 Budget for Economic Development.

Economic Development supports Maribyrnong’s business community by fostering the growth of businesses with an annual calendar of training opportunities and networking events, and a Business Concierge to facilitate new business applications. The Business Improvement District (BID) grant program provides funding for destination marketing projects and will be extended in 2020/21 to support traders affected by COVID-19 with micro-grants for innovative new business development activities.

Economic Development proactively promotes Maribyrnong as a place for investment and leverages feedback from major industry representatives through the Enterprise Maribyrnong Special Committee (EMSC) to grow opportunities for employment in our city. Through the Footscray Smart City for Social Cohesion project, the team have implemented Smart City technology including free WiFi and digital kiosks. This Footscray University Town initiative is delivered in partnership with Victoria University.

Economic Development has played a key role in assisting businesses through COVID-19 restrictions, delivering a business relief package, coordinating a marketing campaign to encourage shopping locally, disseminating critical information in a daily Business Bulletin and providing extensive advice to individual businesses regarding their re-opening.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

A total of $1,241,561 has been proposed for the 2020/21 Budget for Environmental Health.

Environmental Health monitors and enforces public health and safety regulations. This includes inspecting food businesses such as cafes, bars and restaurants annually to ensure safe and hygienic practices, as well as monitoring health and beauty premises such as hairdressers and tattoo parlours to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The team enforces the Food Act 1994 and the Tobacco Act 1998 among others. Since COVID-19 restrictions were announced, Environmental Health has been integral in communicating with businesses citywide to ensure government guidelines are understood and adhered to.

FESTIVALS AND ACTIVATION

A total of $1,527,944 has been proposed for the 2020/21 Budget for Festivals and Activation.

This team coordinates the Festival City Program, which includes a calendar of exciting events such as Carols in the Yarraville Gardens, St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival, Wominjeka Festival, Eat Drink Westside, and Quang Minh Tet Lunar New Year. A range of activations in our business districts are delivered throughout the year, in line with Council’s Tourism Visitation Strategy, including annual Christmas decorations and children’s activities. These initiatives drive visitation to our key shopping precincts and are critical in the recovery of our local economy from COVID-19.

Capital Works

• $4,000,000 (including a grant and Council funds) has been allocated to the Footscray Wharf and Promenade Project
• $2,500,000 has been allocated to public realm works in the new Josephs Road precinct of the Footscray Major Activity Centre
• $897,000 has been allocated to the renewal of the Footscray Community Arts Centre’s historic Henderson House for events and exhibitions
• $444,000 has been allocated to footpath renewal in high use pedestrian areas
• $270,000 has been allocated to bicycle trail lighting between destinations such as the Heavenly Queen Temple, Footscray Park, Chifley Drive and Edgewater Waterfront
• $223,000 has been allocated to Nicholson and Irving Streets in Footscray for streetscape improvements and the development of a new bus interchange
• $162,000 has been allocated to the construction of an urban public space (pop-up park) at the intersection of Clarke and Barkly Streets in West Footscray
• $135,000 has been allocated to industrial precinct amenity improvements, a priority action of the Maribyrnong Economic and Industrial Development Strategy (MEIDS)
• $54,000 has been allocated to the Yarraville neighbourhood activity centre for priority pedestrian treatments such as an upgraded street crossing.

The proposed budget is now on exhibition for community feedback and you are invited to have your say.

Find out more about the proposed Budget, review the budget documents and have your say here:

https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/budget-2020-21