The Draft Budget 2025-2026 sets out how Council funding will be directed to deliver and maintain the services and maintain infrastructure for our community's benefit.
The budget is designed to allocate resources towards supporting the vision and objectives of the Council as outlined in the Council Plan.
This plan was developed through collaboration and consultation with our community, informed through existing plans, legislative requirements and strategies. It reflects the key objectives the Council holds for the betterment of its community, through the delivery of key services, advocacy areas and program initiatives.
Council commenced its budget process by engaging with the community from late 2024. Council held a number of open sessions and pop-up stalls at targeted community events to invite public comment and submissions.
Council heard that the community wanted above all an effective Council and a strong local economy. We also heard that the community’s priority for Council investment was
geared towards investment in safe local roads and pathways. The community fed back that it wanted continued advocacy efforts on major regional issues that impact their lives like the state and federal road networks, housing, health, community safety and the environment. Whilst not provided directly by Council, these issues continue to influence our advocacy efforts.
The Council marries this feedback with a broad range of strategic plans that comprehensively review services, utilises demography information and adheres to legislative requirements to deliver the best balance of services we can, within the limitation of scarce resources and increased cost of living pressures on our diverse community.
You can read the Draft Budget and have your say below.