Coorong council plans $500,000 infrastructure spend at Tailem Bend

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If you’re a Tailem Bend ratepayer wondering how the Coorong council spends your money, here’s part of an answer.

More than $500,000 worth of upgrades to public infrastructure will be carried out around the town over the next 12 months.

The Coorong council finalised its works plan for 2023-24 at a meeting last week, after councillors finalised its budget earlier this month.

While most ratepayer-funded spending will be on rural roads elsewhere in the district, Tailem will benefit from:

• $183,000 to stabilise and re-seal Lime Kiln Road from Sheoak Place down to Substation Road
• $162,000 to re-line waste water pumping stations on First Avenue and at 52 Princes Highway
• $88,000 to resurface 200 metres of Kulde Road north of the railway crossing
• $65,000 to improve a stormwater drain on Granites Road

In a report, roads and infrastructure director Matt James said projects had been chosen based on public safety, asset condition and performance, maintenance that would otherwise be due, and how much assets were used.

The council will spend a touch under $7 million upgrading its existing assets – roads and other infrastructure – over the next year, funded in part by higher levels of government.

It had originally planned to spend slightly more, but councillors and staff cut some costs out of the 2023-24 budget to limit an already significant rate rise.

• Watch a replay of the council’s July meeting: www.youtube.com.