In 2025, Council identified a number of priority projects that demonstrate our commitments and strategic direction (view full booklet).
Ahead of the 2026 State Election, Golden Plains Shire Council has highlighted eight focus areas and is seeking bipartisan support to advance these essential services and infrastructure for our growing communities.
2026 State Election Priority Projects
- Improved Public Transport Connectivity and Active Transport
- Increased Investment in Road Safety, Roads and Active Transport
- Investment in Tracks and Trails
- Investment in Emergency Services and Community Safety
- Sewerage Infrastructure for Supporting Growth
- Investment for Early Years, Young People and Liveability
- Scrapping the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF)
- Mobile and Digital Connectivity Across the Golden Plains
Golden Plains Shire consists of three electorates:
- Eureka – Meredith, Shelford, Lethbridge, Rokewood, Dereel, Mount Mercer, Teesdale, Inverleigh and She Oaks
- Geelong – Bannockburn, Batesford, Murgheboluc, Stonehaven, Russells Bridge and Gheringhap
- Ripon – Haddon, Ross Creek, Napoleons, Smythesdale, Scarsdale and Linton
Below are the priority projects we’re advocating for across our three electorate (view full booklet).
Priority: Increased Investment in Road Safety, Roads and Active Transport
Project: Midland Highway Duplication between Geelong and Ballarat. Council supports VicRoads’ investigation into duplication between Bannockburn and the Geelong Ring Road and is advocating for:
- A State Government commitment to the full duplication of the Midland Highway between Ballarat and Geelong over time
- Recognition of the corridor’s role in supporting population growth, freight efficiency and regional economic development
Why: The Midland Highway is a critical transport corridor linking Victoria’s two largest regional cities, Ballarat and Geelong, and is increasingly carrying commuter, freight and visitor traffic. Duplication is essential to improve safety, reduce congestion and futureproof the corridor.
What We Need: $5 million in funding to complete detailed design and planning work for the section linking Bannockburn to Geelong as a first stage. Confirmation of the preferred route into Geelong, following the options analysis that was completed through Batesford.
Priority: Increased Investment in Road Safety, Roads and Active Transport
Project: Urches Road, Werneth upgrade - widening of single lane sealed road to improve access for heavy vehicles to service agricultural properties.
Why: Golden Plains Shire has over 1,700 km’s of Council managed roads, more than 150 bridges and major culverts and over 180 km’s of footpaths. Council is seeking the reinstatement of the Country Roads and Bridges Program to help support the delivery of critical road and bridge projects.
What We Need: $1.5M
Priority: Improved Public Transport Connectivity and Active Transport
Project: Increase the frequency and reliability of public bus services across the Shire
Why: Improved transport connectivity is essential to support workforce participation, access to education and health services, reduce car dependency, and enable sustainable growth across the Shire.
What We Need: Improved services from southern townships to Geelong and improved services for central townships across the Municipality
Priority: Investment in Tracks and Trails
Project: Bannockburn to Teesdale off-road link
Why: Investment in these tracks and trails will:
- Improve community connectivity between townships
- Promote active and healthy lifestyles
- Create new visitor and tourism opportunities that support the local economy
- Provide low‑cost, inclusive recreation options for residents of all ages and abilities
What We Need: $250,000 in funding will support the planning and development of projects that will enable Golden Plains to further progress active transport links both within the municipality and to neighbouring areas.
Priority: Sewerage Infrastructure for Supporting Growth
Project: Meredith has been identified by Council as a key location for future growth, supported by adopted strategic planning. However, the absence of reticulated sewerage is a significant constraint on development, liveability and environmental protection.
Why: A feasibility study would confirm the infrastructure need, growth demand and environmental benefits, positioning the township for sustainable growth and enabling Council to unlock up to 1,100 developable blocks with appropriate sewerage infrastructure.
What We Need: $250,000 for a feasibility study.
Priority: Investment for Early Years, Young People and Liveability
Project: Upgrades and development of the Teesdale Turtle Bend Reserve recreation & events space.
Why: This project has been identified after community consultation. The completed masterplan identifies future developments and improvements of the Teesdale Turtle Bend Reserve Recreation & Events Space, with the intention for future delivery through multiple phases.
What We Need: Stage 1 $500,000
Priority: Investment for Early Years, Young People and Liveability
Project Development of the Lethbridge Active Play Space
Why: Construction of a new multi-skill skate park, including seating, shade/shelter and redevelopment of the existing multi-use court. The skate park will complement the existing play space upgrades that have recently occurred on site, creating a modern and usable Active Youth Space for the Lethbridge community. This project has been driven by residents with the support of the Golden Plains Shire and will encourage physical activity, outdoor play and increase participation in active recreation.
What We Need: Stage 1 $500,000
Priority: Investment for Early Years, Young People and Liveability
Project: New kindergartens in Inverleigh and Lethbridge
Why: Under the new Pre‑Prep program, the hours for free Four‑Year‑Old Kindergarten will slowly increase. They will go from 15 hours a week to 30 hours a week by 2031. Because of this and our growing community In Golden Plains Shire, we need to increase our facilities to ensure we can meet demand.
What We Need: To be costed by State Government
Priority: Improved Public Transport Connectivity and Active Transport
Project: Commit to the future reinstatement of passenger rail between Bannockburn and Geelong, with a long‑term vision to reconnect Geelong and Ballarat via passenger rail. With the changes to the Sunshine Station there will be additional freight trains utilising this section of rail and it provides the perfect opportunity to increase investment in this strategically important link.
Why: Improved transport connectivity is essential to support workforce participation, access to education and health services, reduce car dependency, and enable sustainable growth across the Shire.
What We Need: To be costed by State Government.
Priority: Improved Public Transport Connectivity and Active Transport
Project: Increase the frequency and reliability of public bus services across the Shire
Why: Improved transport connectivity is essential to support workforce participation, access to education and health services, reduce car dependency, and enable sustainable growth across the Shire.
What We Need: Improved services from southern townships to Geelong and improved services for central townships across the Municipality.
Priority: Increased Investment in Road Safety, Roads and Active Transport
Project: Council supports VicRoads’ investigation into duplication between Bannockburn and the Geelong Ring Road and is advocating for:
- A State Government commitment to the full duplication of the Midland Highway between Ballarat and Geelong over time
- Recognition of the corridor’s role in supporting population growth, freight efficiency and regional economic development
Why: The Midland Highway is a critical transport corridor linking Victoria’s two largest regional cities, Ballarat and Geelong, and is increasingly carrying commuter, freight and visitor traffic. Duplication is essential to improve safety, reduce congestion and futureproof the corridor.
What We Need: $5 million in funding to complete detailed design and planning work for the section linking Bannockburn to Geelong as a first stage. Confirmation of the preferred route into Geelong, following the options analysis that was completed through Batesford.
Priority: Investment for Early Years, Young People and Liveability
Project: Construction of the Moorabool River Playspace in Batesford
Why: The construction of a culturally designed picnic/resting/story space with a shelter, seating, and a nature-based play space located on higher ground adjacent to the river, embedding Wadawurrung cultural themes, will enhance community use and connection to Country.
What We Need: $2M in funding
Priority: Investment for Early Years, Young People and Liveability
Project: New kindergarten facilities required now to support growing population
Why: Under the new Pre‑Prep program, the hours for free Four‑Year‑Old Kindergarten will slowly increase. They will go from 15 hours a week to 30 hours a week by 2031. Because of this and our growing community In Golden Plains Shire, we need to increase our facilities to ensure we can meet demand.
What We Need: To be costed by State Government.
Priority: Investment in Tracks and Trails
Project: Off-road trail linking Bannockburn to Teesdale link and an off-road trail linking Bannockburn, Batesford and Geelong.
Why: Investment in tracks and trails will:
- Improve community connectivity between townships
- Promote active and healthy lifestyles
- Create new visitor and tourism opportunities that support the local economy
- Provide low cost, inclusive recreation options for residents of all ages and abilities
What We Need: $250,000 in funding will support the planning and development of projects that will enable Golden Plains to further progress active transport links both within the municipality and to neighbouring areas.
Priority: Increased Investment in Road Safety, Roads and Active Transport
Project: McPhillips Road, Bannockburn - upgrade and provide a temporary seal to section of McPhillips Road from the Bannockburn residential development area linking to the Midland Highway.
Why: Golden Plains Shire has over 1,700 km’s of Council managed roads, more than 150 bridges and major culverts and over 180 km’s of footpaths. Council is seeking the reinstatement of the Country Roads and Bridges Program to help support the delivery of critical road and bridge projects.
What We Need: $800,000
Project: Russells Bridge Road, Russells Bridge - replacement of the existing single lane load limited bridge to service the local community
Why: Golden Plains Shire has over 1,700 km’s of Council managed roads, more than 150 bridges and major culverts and over 180 km’s of footpaths. Council is seeking the reinstatement of the Country Roads and Bridges Program to help support the delivery of critical road and bridge projects.
What We Need: $3.5M
Priorities: Improved Public Transport Connectivity and Active Transport
Project: Golden Plains Shire is one of Victoria’s fastest‑growing peri‑urban municipalities, yet public transport provision has not kept pace with population growth. Council would like to see:
- Improved connections from Northern townships to Ballarat
- Improved services to central townships and across the municipality
Why: Improved transport connectivity is essential to support workforce participation, access to education and health services, reduce car dependency, and enable sustainable growth across the Shire.
What We Need: Increase the frequency and reliability of public bus services across the Shire.
Priority: Investment for Early Years, Young People and Liveability
Project: Construction of the Smythesdale SubRegional Play Space
Why: The Smythesdale Sub-Regional Play Space Project will deliver a new central play space with public amenities that caters to a diverse range of age groups and services townships in the north of the Shire. The project aims to increase opportunities for social connection and inclusion for residents and users and will support the health and wellbeing of the Golden Plains community.
What We Need: Stage 1 $500,000
Priority: Investment in Emergency Services and Community Safety
Project: Establish a new Ambulance Victoria station to service Smythesdale and the broader northern Shire, improving emergency health response times and outcomes for residents.
Why: Improved emergency service coverage is fundamental to liveability, community confidence and the safety of residents in both the north and south of the Shire.
What We Need: Costing to be determined by State Government
Priority: Investment for Early Years, Young People and Liveability
Project: Kindergarten Woady Yaloak Upgrade
Why: Under the new Pre‑Prep program, the hours for free Four‑Year‑Old Kindergarten will slowly increase. They will go from 15 hours a week to 30 hours a week by 2031. Because of this and our growing community In Golden Plains Shire, we need to increase our facilities to ensure we can meet demand.
What We Need: To be costed by State Government.
Priority: Investment in Tracks and Trails
Project: A trail between Ross Creek and Smythesdale for recreational, commuting and tourism purposes
Why: Developing a connection between Ross Creek and Smythesdale presents an opportunity to enhance both commuting and recreational options in the area. This proposed trail was raised through community consultation and aims to provide a safe and convenient route for commuters and promote active transportation. The trail connects to the Woady Creek Recreation Reserve and Woady Yaloak Primary School’s Ross Creek Campus in Ross Creek.
What We Need: $250,000 in funding will support the planning and development of projects that will enable Golden Plains to further progress active transport links both within the municipality and to neighbouring areas.
Why: For rural communities, every dollar matters, and extra costs on essential emergency services hit harder here, where locals volunteer their time, their equipment, and often their own safety to protect the towns they love.
What We Need: A commitment to scrap the ESVF levy.
Why: Digital connectivity is vital for rural communities because it links people to essential services, supports local businesses, and keeps residents connected and safe.
What We Need: We are calling for a commitment to continue and expand long-term funding to improve regional and rural digital connectivity.
Why: Population growth requires proportional scaling of emergency services, otherwise response capability declines even further. Increased staffing and infrastructure must match the Shire’s growth trajectory.
What We Need: A commitment to increase Emergency Services funding across the Shire.