How would you like Council rates to be spent on essential infrastructure?

The essential infrastructure we enjoy today has been built up over many years to keep our community safe and healthy and to meet community expectations. Essential infrastructure includes:

  • Open space and outdoor recreation

    • street trees
    • park trees
    • gardens
    • grassed areas
    • playgrounds
    • public furniture (like seats, picnic settings and bins)
    • road reserves
    • spaces for outdoor dining
    • sportsgrounds
    • sport pavilions and club rooms.

  • Community buildings

    • libraries
    • healthy ageing centres
    • community centres
    • arts and cultural centres
    • early learning centres
    • maternal and child health centres
    • public toilets
    • leisure centres and pools.

  • Streets, lighting and drainage networks

    • council-owned local streets
    • council-owned car parks
    • footpaths
    • laneways
    • off-road paths for walking and riding
    • public lighting
    • stormwater drains.

Each type of infrastructure has its own set of costs. These costs are rising and we don't want to increase rates.

Deciding how much to spend on this infrastructure over the next 10 years is not easy.

In August and September 2024, we consulted people on the topic of essential infrastructure. Find out what people told us.

You can prepare for the final workshop

1. Choose where you would spend more or spend less on essential infrastructure. 2. Share your suggestions at the bottom of this page.

Activity 1: Should we spend more or spend less?

Imagine you have 150 points to ‘spend’ on essential infrastructure each year for the next 10 years.

For the sake of this activity, Council's current spend for each type of infrastructure is showing as 10 points.

1. Click on each of the 15 photos below. Each photo opens an information box with 3 options:

  • spend less in the next 10 years
  • spend the same as we do now
  • spend more in the next 10 years.

2. Choose an option by dragging the pointer to indicate how many points you want to spend. Once you've dragged, your preference will be saved and you can move onto the next photo. Your total spend will be displayed in the grey box above the photos.

3. You can make changes by going back to a photo and clicking 'Reset'. Then drag the pointer again.

4. When you have chosen an option for each photo, click the green 'Submit' button at the bottom. Remember, your total spend must be no more than 150 points.

Activity 2: Would you like Council to spend more or spend less on essential infrastructure?

Please tell us about the type of infrastructure you suggest we spend more or spend less on.