Penrith City Council is planning to build another pop-up park in the region as part of major upgrades to the St Marys CBD.
The new park would have a cost of $150,000 and comes despite criticism of the existing pop-up park in the Penrith CBD.
Residents are currently being invited to have their say on this and other projects that Council is planning to spend money on through its Budget in the next year.
And with $45 million in capital works expenditure planned for the next 12 months, there are plenty of suburbs where Council is prepared to splash its cash.
Council’s draft Delivery Program is now on public exhibition and details just what projects are set to receive funding.
It also details what Council services fees will be increasing.
Llandilo is set to have several major roads upgrades with Sixth Avenue and Eight Avenue each to be reconstructed at a cost of $537,200.
And nearly $14 million has been allocated for road resealing and resheeting, with Dartmoor Circuit in Emu Heights, Forbes Street in Emu Plains and Goldmark Crescent in Cranebrook the big winners in North Ward. In East Ward, roads to be resealed include Banks Drive in St Clair, Charles Hackett Drive in St Marys and Melville Road in St Clair.
The winners in South Ward are Derby Street in Penrith, Bulu Drive and Floribunda Avenue in Glenmore Park as well as Kingswood Road in Orchard Hills.
In terms of asset renewal programs, Judges Car Park will receive an $80,000 toilet upgrade and $45,000 of new paint.
$110,000 will be spent on a bathroom upgrade for St Clair Recreational Centre and $200,000 on Council’s Civic Centre.
The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, the jewel in the crown of the arts in western Sydney, will have $300,000 spent on its air conditioning.
$153,000 will go towards minor upgrades at Council’s various childcare facilities.
But it isn’t all good news for childcare services. Parents with children in long day care are set to face a price rise, with Council proposing to increase the daily flat fees from $77.50 to $82 starting from July 1, 2014, followed by another price increase to $86.50 daily starting January 1, 2015. There will be minor price rises to occasional long day care services, and some OOSH services.
It will cost you $50 extra to bury a loved one with prices set to increase from $2,300 to $2,350 for burials and reservations.
A key feature of this year’s Council budget is improvements to the Penrith and St Marys CBDs.
New pedestrian lighting for Queen Street will be funded this year at a cost of $800,000 and will be accompanied by the new pop-up park with a price tag of $150,000.
All in all, Council’s total expenditure will be $217 million. But just where will it come from? Rates will contribute 42.8 per cent, with minimum residential rates increasing by $34 and business rates by $43.50.
