Golden Plains Shire Council is seeking community feedback to inform the development of the 2026/27 Council Budget through a range of engagement opportunities including Thinktank workshops, an online survey and lodging Budget Submissions.
An important part of Budget preparation is inviting the community to share their feedback on key elements of the Budget, including what services matter most to them, where Council should focus our resources and what is considered most important to the community.
Residents and community members are invited to share their feedback to inform the development of the 2026/27 Budget from 9am, Wednesday 26 November 2025 in the following ways:
Lodge a Budget Submission: Residents and community members can participate in the Budget Submission process by filling out the online submission form at goldenplains.vic.gov.au/consultations or completing a written submission form. Written submissions can be addressed to Manager Finance, Golden Plains Shire Council, PO Box 111, Bannockburn, VIC 3331 or emailed to [email protected]. Online and written Budget submissions may be lodged until 9am, Monday 2 February 2026.
Complete the Online Survey: An online survey will provide residents and community members the opportunity to highlight what is important to them and highlight any projects or ideas that could benefit the community. The online survey can be completed at goldenplains.vic.gov.au/consultations and will be open until 5pm, Monday 5 January 2026.
Attend a Community Thinktank Workshop: Thinktank workshops will be held on Wednesday 3 December between 2 to 4pm at The Well in Smythesdale and Thursday 4 December between 3.30 to 5pm at the Golden Plains Civic Centre in Bannockburn. The workshops will provide an opportunity for face-to-face discussion with Council’s Finance Team about Budget priorities.
A further online session will be held on Wednesday 28 January 2026 to outline ‘what we heard’ during the Budget engagement process.
All feedback and submissions will be considered while projected revenue, existing commitments, strategic priorities and community needs will also be taken into account when preparing recommendations to inform the 2026/27 Budget.
A Council meeting will be held in February 2026 to consider Budget Submissions before the final 2026/27 Budget is considered for adoption at the May 2026 Council meeting.
Golden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey encourages residents to reflect on the priorities that matter most to them and share their feedback during the Budget engagement process.
The Budget outlines how resources are prioritised to deliver important and relevant programs to the community identified by Council as priorities in the Council Plan 2025-2029, Cr Sharkey said.
While we’re navigating a complex financial landscape, we’re still striving to maintain our essential services. We want to know what services matter most to you, and where we should focus our resources, he said.
Your voice matters – tell us what you think is most important by sharing your ideas and priorities in the Thinktank sessions, online surveys or in your Budget Submission.
More information on the 2026/27 Budget can be found at goldenplains.vic.gov.au/consultations.
For further information, contact Council’s Finance team at [email protected] or call 5220 7111.