Consultation for the 2025-26 Budget and key financial documents was held over a number of phases from the 5 August 2024 until 7 May 2025.

Highlights over the four phases of consultation are:

The $347 million operating budget will enable Council to continue to deliver essential services to the City’s growing population including kerbside bin collections, services for children, families and older residents, libraries, support for local businesses, as well as managing spaces and places for our community such as leisure centres, community facilities, parks, playground and sports fields.

The Proposed Budget also includes $117 million for Council’s capital works program to invest in building, upgrading or expanding much needed facilities and infrastructure across the municipality.

Key projects proposed to be delivered in 2025-26 include:

• Construction of the next stage of the Regional Sports Precinct in Mernda
• Completion of the Murnong Community Centre in Donnybrook
• Complete the upgrade of Peter Hopper Lake in Mill Park
• Complete construction of the Hill Top splash park and playground in Doreen
• Begin the upgrade of the Huskisson Reserve Multipurpose facility
• Begin the development of the Johnsons Road housing precinct in Mernda
• Continue the delivery of local road restoration and resurfacing program
• Continue the ongoing program of local playground upgrades.

Council has also developed the Proposed Financial Plan 2025-26 to 2034-35 and Proposed Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-26 to 2028-29. Together with the Proposed Budget, these documents ensure Council remains financially responsible while meeting the needs of our community now and into the future.

All three proposed financial strategic documents have been developed following extensive community consultation gathered last year and early this year.

Throughout August and September 2024 our community identified their top priorities, helping shape the Proposed Budget, Financial Plan and Revenue and Rating Plan. Close to 900 people shared their thoughts both online and at 13 community-based pop-ups, identifying roads, footpaths, parks, playgrounds, open spaces and community facilities are their top priorities.

Council checked in with the community during December 2024 and January 2025 to confirm the priorities identified and also held three focus groups to discuss local priorities.

The final phase of engagement on the draft plans closed on 7 May 2025.

The final phase of consultation was open from 16 April and closed on 7 May 2025. We had 16 online responses, including 3 submissions which were heard at the Submission Committee Meeting on 6 May 2025. We spoke to 62 people out in the community at various pop-up locations.

The full engagement summary for this stage is now available and can be read here or downloaded from the document folder. Follow this page to stay up to date