Budget

The 2025-26 Council Budget was adopted on Tuesday 24 June 2025.

The budget provides for a total operating expenditure of $23.5 million and a record capital works program of $18.75 million.

It contains a 2.75 percent rate increase which is lower than the cap set by the State Government’s ‘Fair Go Rates System’ cap of 3 percent. The increase is also lower than the real cost of inflation over the past year, which has been closer to 3.3 percent.

The adoption of the budget followed two comprehensive community consultation processes undertaken in January 2025 and May 2025, which included presentations by Councillors at a community forum.

Some projects that were adopted from community submissions include:

  • Extending the new shared footpath from Howqua Inlet to the Caravan Park in collaboration with community volunteers.
  • Upgrade of Walshs Road, Goughs Bay with an additional 1km of road sealing, to be completed over the next 2 years in consultation with DEECA.
  • Township Sealing Program continued with upgrades for Church Street and New Street, Mansfield.
  • Extending shared paths along Piries-Goughs Bay Road to Mountain Bay Drive and along Mansfield.

The Capital Works program is worth $22.28 million, with $13.9 million from government grants and $99,000 from development contributions. Some of the key infrastructure projects that will be delivered as part of this budget include:

  • Completing the IMPACT Route with Highton Lane and Rifle Butts Road works being finalised, including the construction of a new roundabout at the intersection with Monkey Gully Road.
  • Progressing the Mansfield Heritage Museum, working with the Mansfield Historical Society and other project partners including Taungurung Land and Waters Council on the exhibit design and fit-out of the new building and other station precinct projects.
  • Construction of a new roundabout at the black spot intersection of Dead Horse Lane and the Mansfield-Whitfield Road, which is a state government road that is managed by VicRoads, with a targeted full completion by the end of the year.
  • Commencement of the construction of the Lords Reserve Pavilion and amenities upgrades at Lords Reserve and at the Mansfield Sporting Complex changerooms so that all users of these important sporting and recreational spaces can benefit.
  • Design and construction of a new bridge on Greenvale Lane for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians and more funding for bridges and culverts to address longstanding issues.
  • Upgrade of the access road at the Mansfield Resource and Recovery Centre, improving the experience for all users who access this important service.
  • Installation of solar panels and batteries at the Mansfield Sporting Complex and other key locations as part of our Climate Action Plan.

Other major programs of work for the 2025-26 financial year include: 

  • Working with our community to finalise the Delatite Valley Plan and progress plans for a riverside green space and public park in Merrijig.
  • Continuing the successful spring clean-up event for green waste (disposal free of charge) and tip vouchers for free disposal of green waste at the Resource Recovery Centre once per year.
  • Streamlining our health and wastewater permit systems to make it easier to apply for permits, make payments and track applications, as part of our digital transformation program. This puts systems in place that mean we can deal with regional growth in a more efficient way.
  • Further increased funding for weed management, controlling weeds such as blackberry and Paterson’s curse, with a continued focus on European Wasp control following the successful community collaboration last year.

There is an underlying deficit of $93,000 described in this budget for 2025-26, which is dependent on the timing of income related to grant funding. The annual report for 2024-25 is forecast to show an underlying surplus of $2.495 million. This is all in alignment with Council’s ten-year financial plan.

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