Big plans to upgrade the Shire of Ashburton as tens of millions of capital work projects get announced

Tens of millions of dollars for capital work programs were the feature of the Shire of Asbhurton’s new financial year budget which looks to put the funds into upgrading community infrastructure. The Shire’s new $83.3 million program includes a $5m new sports pavilion at Minna Oval, a $5m Tom Price administration facility, $15m for an Onslow jetty, and $4m for bike tracks in Pannawonica and Paraburdoo. Cr White said the Minna Oval redevelopment was the marquee project in the new budget as it would expand the sports services offered to the community. “The big exciting project is a sports club at Minna Oval,” she said. “It’ll mean that the sports club will be for soccer and rugby, and little athletics. “It will include a sports bar plus a playground and you will redevelop that oval.” By the end of June 2024, capital investment by the Shire would have exceeded $200m in five years and the council has budgeted over $78m in revenue in the upcoming financial year and just over $72m in expenses. Rates will also increase by 3.95 per cent in the new financial year. Cr White said this was a higher increase than the previous year but there had not been much public uproar. “Well no comments were made at all when it was advertised,” she said. “It was only 2 per cent last year so we’ve kept the rates under control hopefully.” Budgeted rate revenue for the upcoming financial year was more than $55m.