A new bridge at Barnsley's Weir Road, a library museum at Cameron Park and a multi-million dollar upgrade of Hunter Regional Sports Centre at Glendale feature in Lake Macquarie City Council's draft budget for next financial year.
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Lake Macquarie Council voted to place the $367 million operational plan on exhibition at Monday night's council meeting.
The draft budget outlines 271 actions and $88 million in capital works. The capital works include $46 million on replacing or upgrading assets, and $42 million on creating new assets.
Almost $48 million will go towards roads, drains, footpaths, shared pathways and associated infrastructure - including $2.4 million towards the $12 million Fernleigh Track extension.
The motion also outlined council's long term financial plan. In response to a question from councillor Jason Pauling about its accuracy, staff said based on current projections, council was expected to return to a surplus in either 2022/23 or 2023/24 as the financial recovery from COVID-19 continues.
Council's CEO Morven Cameron said it remained important for the city's economy to keep moving, despite the recent challenges.
"Our city will continue to change over the coming years and this draft Operational Plan accounts for this, so that as an organisation, we can sustainably keep pace with this change and provide the services and facilities that a modern Lake Macquarie City needs," Ms Cameron said.
Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser said she thought the proposed budget would deliver an even spread of projects across the city.
"Confidence in the city is returning from what was a difficult time for our community and businesses following the pandemic," she said. "This draft plan sets out many important projects we will endeavour to accomplish in this fifth and final year of our delivery program."
The plan will be on exhibition for public comment until May 24 May. Drop-in sessions will also be held at Pelican Markets on May 1 (8-10am), Stockland Glendale near Woolworths and Coles on May 6 (4-6pm) and Farm to Fork Markets, Morisset Showground on May 16 (9-11am).
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Sage Swinton
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
