City of Palmerston presents the draft 2024/25 Municipal Plan and Budget and encourages the community to provide feedback.

Over the past several years City of Palmerston has delivered major projects including SWELL, initial stages of Zuccolli Community Hub and Gray Community Hall, whilst continually maintaining and improving our community assets. In 2024/2025 City of Palmerston plans to continue the focus on community whilst planning for the future and elevating community safety.

The draft budget delivers a total spend of $59.78 million, with operational expenditure of $48.95 million and $10.83 million of capital works.

Key highlights for this year’s Municipal Plan include:

• Introduction of the new Animal Management By-Laws
• Creating a Marlow Lagoon Master Plan
• Delivery of community events such as Darwin Festival in Palmerston, Youth Festival and Christmas in Wonderland
• $846,600 Playspace Renewals and Upgrades
• $300,000 Zuccoli Community Hub Design
• $1.25M Commencement of renewal of the Driver Community Centre
• $715,000 Pathways and Laneways
• $556,400 Lighting upgrades and renewals
• $500,000 Greening the City – Tree Planting
• $340,000 Pre-Cyclone Clean-Up
• $95,000 City Activation initiatives

Council has balanced in this budget the combination of community expectations for service and program delivery and increasing expenses due to local and national economic pressures. This year’s Plan identifies how the community objectives will be achieved, whilst keeping the rate increase to a minimum. This equates to a $65 increase applicable to over 68% of residential property owners in Palmerston. There will also be a waste service charge increase of $30.The average increase for the majority of residential rate payers is $1.83 per week.

The draft 2024-2025 Municipal Plan and 2024-2034 Long Term Financial Plan can be viewed at Palmerston.nt.gov.au, at Civic Plaza, Library or the Palmerston Recreation Centre.

Consultation is open from 13 May and closes on 10 June. Feedback can be made via the website, mail or email.

Quote attributed to Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell

“We recognise the many challenges that face our community and we also acknowledge community feedback, which is why in this years Municipal Plan and budget, we are placing heavy focus on community safety, asset maintenance, and delivering on projects that will enhance the city, impacting positively on the local economy.”