ROADS, bridges and community facilities will benefit from a $15.69 million capital works program as part of the Donnybrook-Balingup Shire Council's 2014-15 budget, announced last week.
The expansion of the Tuia Lodge Frail Aged Facility ($4.04m), upgrading the roof, changing rooms and toilet facilities at the Donnybrook Recreation Centre ($190,000) and a contribution towards new synthetic greens and fairway at the Donnybrook Country Club ($222,850) are among a number of improvements to community facilities.
The remaining two units at Preston Retirement Village will be completed, a new storage facility will be built for the Balingup Town Hall and council-owned land in Mead Street, Donnybrook will be developed to provide seven new townsite lots for sale.
The council also agreed to redevelop the shire administration building, pending further plans and costings - a project that will be assisted by the re-instatement of 2012-13 Royalties for Regions Funding.
"As always, expenditure on road works and other road infrastructure is a major component with $7.4m allocated to upgrading and repairing the shire's transport networks," shire president Steve Dilley said.
Southampton Bridge destroyed by bushfirelast year will be rebuilt at a cost of $3.6m and structural repairs to bridges in Airstrip Road, Balingup, and Preston Park Road, Donnybrook, will cost $393,000 and $402,000 respectively.
A total of $1.3m is allocated to widening, re-sealing or re-sheeting sections of Upper Capel, Ferguson, Brookhampton and Grimwade roads, addressing blackspot locations in Upper Capel and Irishtown roads and a new car park for Donnybrook Primary School.
"Funding for these projects is provided, in part, through a number of grants from both the state and federal governments," Cr Dilley said.
"However, this year road funding from the state government has been significantly reduced and the indexation on federal funding, including Roads to Recovery has been frozen, with its future uncertain."
"These constraints require the council to be innovative and responsive if we are to maintain our community assets and keep providing the services expected of us by the community," he said.
"One way we are doing this is by sharing resources.
"For example, a part-time community emergency management officer will be employed in partnership with the Shire of Capel and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, and a part-time asset management officer will be shared with the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes."
He said the council already had for several years successfully shared ranger and IT services with neighbouring shires.
"Despite some setbacks, the council is positive and confident about the future. Our population continues to grow by about 2.5 per cent and some 60 new homes are built in the shire each year," Cr Dilley said.
