Promotional strategy a part of city’s budget plan

Bunbury City Council has supported a number of inclusions in its 2017-18 financial plan in the latest step of a “robust” budget process.

The council deliberated over six inclusions at its meeting last week endorsing nearly $200,000 worth of items, including $120,000 to implement a City Promotional Strategy.

A $30,000 donation to the South West Clontarf Academy at Newton Moore Senior High School was deferred by the council, after questions were raised as to why the school’s Girls Academy was not getting the same.

Since the meeting, the council has since received an application from the Girls Academy and is expected to consider a donation to both NMSH groups this month.

The council also supported an allocation “up to” $435,000 for the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, following months of heated debate over last year’s funding cuts to the centre.

Mayor Gary Brennan said the budget process was well advanced, with the council set to adopt its 2017-18 financials this month.

“We’ve been working on it for the last five months or so, that’s been a really robust way of doing it,” Mr Brennan said.

The City Promotional Strategy – which Mr Brennan described as “terribly important” – will include $60,000 from the council’s City Parking Reserve and will focus on marketing and promotion of the CBD.