Golden Plains Shire Council’s Budget 2025/26 was adopted by Council at its 27 May meeting. The $52 million Budget focuses on balancing financial sustainability with maintaining services and continued investment in projects that are valued by our community.
The 2025/26 Budget has been prepared based on the adopted principles within the 2021-2025 Council Plan and Financial Plan with rate revenue modelled at a 3.00% average rate cap increase in accordance with the Minister for Local Government’s announcement in December 2024.
Council held public consultation sessions in November 2024 as part of the Financial Plan deliberative engagement and in February 2025 seeking feedback to inform the budget development and promoting the budget submission process. Council held a meeting at Golden Plains Civic Centre on Tuesday 1 April 2025 where anyone who lodged a written submission had an opportunity to present it to Councillors.
The local government sector is experiencing significant financial pressure over recent years as a result of the cumulative impacts from the increasing costs for the delivery of capital projects and operating services, rate capping below the Consumer Price Index, and unprecedented natural disasters.
Golden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey acknowledged the current economic challenges and focus on financial sustainability, stating that the Budget reflects notable reduction in overall expenditure, while concentrating on the completion of current works, projects, services and programs with little room for any new projects.
“In light of the current climate, the Budget aims to balance financial sustainability with continued investment in infrastructure and community services. Whilst there are no new initiatives or additional staff included, ongoing capital works program and upcoming projects such as the Bannockburn Bike Park, Pollocksford Bridge renewal, and the VicRoads road improvement project have been included,” Cr Sharkey said.
“Whilst there is little room for new projects, we assure our residents that every effort has been made to achieve a balance between managing rising costs and maintaining service levels. However, it is imperative that we deliver a financially responsible budget.”
Key Features of Budget 2025/26
This Budget seeks to continue to provide services and improve and maintain infrastructure as well as deliver projects and services that are valued by our community, within the maximum rate cap of 3.00%. The continued trend of increasing costs well above rate cap increases has placed significant pressure on the financial management of Councils across Victoria, who will likely have to reduce the level of service provided to their community or operate at a loss, which is not sustainable over the long-term.
- $52m to continue to deliver more than 70 services to the Golden Plains community.
- 3.00% rate cap.
- Waste Management Fee set at $447 per household.
- Operating surplus of $7.6m, with an overall Underlying surplus of $77k.
Community Infrastructure Projects in Budget 2025/26
- $1.205m Bannockburn Bike Park (subject to external funding).
- $250k Council co-contribution for funding opportunities.
- $650k Northern Streetscape Implementation.
- $2.1m Roads to Recovery program (Mt Mercer-Dereel Road widening, Wingeel Road upgrade).
- $600k Local Roads Improvement Program (Haddon-Windermere Road rehabilitation and Lacys Road/Colac-Ballarat Road rehabilitation at intersection).
- $1.7m TAC Road Improvements program.
- $1.2m Wilgul-Werneth Road/Wurook Road bridge replacement.
- $800k Pollocksford Road bridge repairs contribution.
Key Operational Programs included in Budget 2025/26
- Continued implementation of Climate Emergency Plan actions.
- Continued transition of Waste Services to reflect State mandated 4 bin service.
- Continued development and implementation of the Core Systems Transformation Project.
- Funding for various programs to support active ageing, youth development, and the general health, wellbeing and inclusion of all cohorts across the community.
To read the Budget 2025/26, visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au/budget.