The Shrine’s 2022–2023 Business Plan and Budget reflect our experience operating in a coronavirus COVID-19 disrupted market and anticipates growth in visitation and self-funding. Key assumptions are: lockdowns are unlikely, domestic travel will continue to improve—including cruise market—and the Board’s revised risk appetite will permit a more commercial approach in some approved operating activities.
These positive signs are countered by lingering public health concerns, slow (state) population growth, a net outflow of international travellers (international arrivals not expected to return to pre-COVID levels until FY25), interest rate rises, and increasing inflation. On balance, however, conditions are generally expected to improve on the prior year.
In preparing the Business Plan and budget management has reviewed the Shrine’s responsibilities—as established in the Act and in the Minister’s Statement of Government Priorities—and the objectives of the Shrine’s 2019–24 Strategic Plan. The Business Plan responds to these inputs in a prudent manner, while recognising some significant, costs associated with required changes to executive employment conditions, essential maintenance, one-off asset replacement and enhanced IT management to support growing complexity arising from increased reliance on digital program platforms, hybrid working models and increasing cyber-security risks.
Reflecting the changed operating environment and increasing costs of business, a deficit result is budgeted.
Total Engagement has been critically reviewed relative to performance in 2022–23 and the expected delay in return of international visitors. Maintaining Digital Engagement will once again underpin achievement of the State Grant KPI hurdle of 750,000.
Major new projects are planned in the year including:
- Commencement of the 2025–45 Shrine Master Plan project,
- completion of restoration of the eastern and southern monument steps, (enabled by funding from the Victorian Government)
- completion of restoration of the four heritagelisted, external light towers,(enabled by funding from the Victorian Government)
- construction of an accessible ramp between the Shrine's lower and upper forecourts,(enabled by funding from the Victorian Government)
- construction and installation of security infrastructure to mitigate Hostile Vehicle Attack (enabled by funding from the Victorian Government and supported by the City of Melbourne)
Significant services will include:
- Weekly Last Post Services each Sunday
- Victory in the Pacific Day, 15 August 2022
- Vietnam Veterans' Day, 18 August 2022
- Battle for Australia Day, 1 September 2022
- Remembrance Day, 11 November 2022
- Melbourne Legacy's 91st Annual Anzac Commemoration Ceremony for Students, April 2023
- Anzac Day, 25 April 2023
- Annual Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service, 31 May 2023
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