BALLARAT City Council is planning to spend $36.85 million on its 2012-13 capital works program.
Ballarat mayor Mark Harris said the proposed program was a “grassroots” one.
Under the council’s draft budget, roads would get $15 million while $10 million would go towards Home and Community Care (HACC) services.
If approved, a further $7.3 million would go to family and children’s services, including centralised kindergarten enrolment and expanded maternal and child health service hours.
Cr Harris said the council had spent more capital works money in the first two years of its four year term to stimulate the local economy during the Global Financial Crisis.
However, it had been reeled back this year to “complete basics”.
In the growth and development portfolio, $1.03 million is earmarked for public facility renewal, $360,000 for footpaths, $250,000 for drainage projects and $1.2 million for the Magpie Bridge.
A $1 million Infrastructure Growth Fund and Planning Team could also be set up to meet future population growth demands.
A further $2.8 million would be spent on landfill cell construction and existing cell capping.
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The council plans to spend $900,000 on strategic planning priorities, including the Northern Ballarat Future Directions Strategy, the Western Growth Options Strategy, the Western Link Road stage two planning, further flood mapping work and the Woodman’s Hill masterplan finalisation.
Parks and open spaces stand to receive $750,000, including $197,000 for the Victoria Park Upgrade Project, $400,000 for Avenue of Honour works and $150,000 for street furniture.
The destinations and economy portfolio would spend $100,000 on public art projects, $404,000 on 2014 World Masters Rowing event infrastructure and $634,000 on its CBD strategy, including new public toilets.
A further $3.2 million may be spent on tourism and events, $2 million on the Australian Centre for Democracy at Eureka and $3.3 million for cultural institutions.
Outdoor dining fees for restaurants and cafes would be reduced, the Civic Hall visioning project completed and a Major Sports and Entertainment Precinct masterplan developed.
Stage one of the Ballarat West Employment Zone would get $450,000 for planning, infrastructure and investment.
In people and communities, library services would receive $415,000, $281,000 would be spent on playground improvements, $500,000 would help resurface the Llanberris Reserve track and $230,000 would go on bike paths.