The City of Adelaide's 2024-25 business plan and budget have been approved by city council.
For the first time in a South Australian parliament, a special rate will be introduced for short-term accommodation to provide a fairer system for all commercial accommodation operators.
Under the new scheme, if a property can be used as short-term accommodation for more than 90 days per year and its use as a traditional long-term residential rental is restricted, the property will be considered commercial short-term accommodation and will be assessed as non-residential.
“This initiative is part of a package of measures designed to ensure the City's residents, students, visitors, workers and businesses thrive. To accomplish all of this and make needed budgetary repairs, a 5.9 percent general rate increase has been confirmed.”
Your business plan and budget might look like this:
- We will invest more than $110 million in our capital works program, including more than $56 million in asset upgrades for more than $2 billion of Council-owned assets (roads, footpaths, parks and buildings).
- 1.5% of tax revenues will be dedicated to upgrading buildings in the Community Parklands to ensure sports and recreation groups have the facilities they need now and in the future.
- Implementing the Main Street Revitalization Programme, commencing the refurbishment of Hindley Street and using community input to design the refurbishment of Gouger Street, O'Connell Street and Hutt Street.
- Stimulating the city's economic growth through major investments such as the $400 million Market Square project and the council-led mixed-use development at 218-232 Flinders Street.
- Focus on core community services, including $22.9 million in parkland and open space maintenance, $8.3 million in road renewal, $5.4 million for libraries and $5.8 million for waste management.
- $3.5 million to implement Integrated Climate Strategy initiatives, including planting new street trees, to help lead Adelaide towards a climate resilient future.
The mayor said revitalizing and improving Main Street, combating the effects of climate change by promoting greenery and urgent infrastructure improvements were the focus of this council's second budget.
“The centrepiece of the 2024/25 business plan and budget is a $112 million capital works program, which will deliver vital upgrades to Hindley Street, Hutt Street and Gouger Street, a new Experience Adelaide Centre for visitors and urgent asset renewal.”
“This budget proposes spending approximately $7 million on strategic initiatives such as adaptive reuse housing projects, an integrated climate strategy and urban revitalization.
“In addition, we are setting aside 1.5 per cent of tax revenue to upgrade sports club rooms within the park grounds to ensure there are adequate facilities for the community.”
“We are committed to investing significantly to improve the look and feel of our town and this Budget will help us achieve this.”
