There has been a slight increase of $1.61 in the municipal charge for all properties and the kerbside collection charge and recycling charge has been raised to cover the increased costs imposed to dispose of materials.

We anticipate an operating budget of $23.586 million, roughly half of which will come from rates and the balance from state and federal government grants, user charges, fees and fines.

The budget process is always challenging and our managers have ensured that we can continue to meet the objectives in our council plan. Care has been taken to make sure that servicing the needs of our communities remains a paramount responsibility.

Copies of the draft budget can be viewed at Warracknabeal Shire offices, at Gateway BEET, Hopetoun and on council’s website.

On Friday, May 18 I went to Melbourne to attend the half-yearly state council meeting of the Municipal Association of Victoria. Each of Victoria’s 79 councils sends a delegate to vote on motions that set the direction for MAV lobbying and activities for the next few months. This time there were 71 motions. Most were so straight forward that little debate was required.

Among these were to call on the government to investigate alternative approaches to treatment of waste, to increase the VicRoads budget, to increase public housing, to implement a container deposit scheme, to extend funding for women’s sporting facilities, to give councils more power to act for the removal of derelict buildings, and to develop a plan to maintain the liveability and economic strength of regional Victoria.

Also, Mildura Rural City’s request for the MAV to seek a one-time payment from the state government to readdress the infrastructure renewal gap, which has worsened since it was estimated to be $225 million in 2012, was carried by 98 per cent.

Yarriambiack Shire’s search for a new chief executive officer is entering its final stages. Councillors are hopeful an announcement will be made shortly.