Moira Shire Council has released its latest annual report, outlining the details on all its financial transactions over the 2023-24 financial year.
According to the report, Moira Shire Council employed a total of 208 employees during 2023-24, up from 189 during the previous financial year, 2022-23.
Of the council’s 137 permanent full-time staff, 92 are men, while 65 are women.
In all, the council made more than $88.2m in revenue in the 2023-24 financial year.
Of this, about half ($44.946m) came from rates and charges across the shire.
This represents an increase on last year’s rates and charges revenue, when the council collected $42.492m.
As previously reported in the Courier, the council did not receive its typical share of the Commonwealth Government Financial Assistance Grant of $12.9m until July this financial year.
As a result, while council expected to receive over $14.6m in operating grants in 2023-24, it only received $2.2m.
In the council’s 2023-24 budget, $400,000 was allocated to administrator allowances.
Since his appointment in July last year, Chair Administrator Graeme Emonson was paid an allowance of $298,497, while Administrator Suzanna Sheed received $195,588.
That brings the collective allowance paid to the administrators in 2023-24 to $494,085.
In comparison, neighbouring Campaspe Shire Council’s nine councillors banked a collective allowance of $375,408.60 for the same period.
Before its dismissal, the Moira Shire Council under former mayor Libro Mustica received a collective allowance of $332,222 in the 2021-22 financial year.
Meanwhile, the council provided over $174,000 to 56 local organisations through its Community Strengthening Grants program.
Furthermore, among other capital works projects, the council completed the car park and landscaping at Cobram’s Apex Park, along with a lighting upgrade at Numurkah Recreation Reserve.
Over the past year, the council has also trimmed down the number of days it takes to decide on planning applications from 69 days to 51 days.
In terms of the environment, the council has recorded improvements across the area of waste collection.
Compared to last year, council has increased the amount of organic waste diverted from landfill with 3831 tonnes diverted in 2023-24.
Diversion of waste from landfill increased marginally from 57 per cent in 2023 to 58.37 per cent in 2024.
However, although the council diverted more organic waste in 2023-24 compared to 2022-23, there was a total of 4061.9 tonnes of organic waste diverted in the 2021-22 year.
Works are ongoing across the Numurkah Flood Mitigation Project (NFMP) and the Cobram Township Flood Protection project.
Concerns over Numurkah’s exposure to flood risk were highlighted during the 2012 and October 2022 flood events.
As of this latest report, the council is set to begin the procurement process for Stage 1 of the NFMP, the construction of a levee north of the Broken Creek.