Council invites feedback on Draft 2026-2027 Budget

Published on 27 May 2026

Corangamite Shire Council is inviting community feedback on its $62.6 million Draft 2026-2027 Budget.

The Draft Budget is available for public feedback for two weeks from Wednesday 27 May.

Mayor Kate Makin said the draft budget was presented at the May Council Meeting yesterday (Tuesday 26 May).

“The 2026–2027 Budget explains how we will spend money to keep delivering important services: construction, daily operations, grants, and community programs that improve our residents’ quality of life.”

Cr Makin said fuel prices and other rising costs linked to the war in the Middle East have made it harder to manage the budget.

“Council has had to accommodate an unexpected $180,000 increase in fuel costs in the second half of the 2025-2026 financial year, and we have budgeted for $500,000 in the first half of the 2026-2027 financial year.

“These higher costs affect many areas, such as vehicles, waste collection, road repairs, parks, and contractor services.

“Even though this limits how much we can expand services and projects, this Budget keeps Council financially stable.

“This budget seeks to maintain services, continue investing in infrastructure, and support our communities, all while operating in an increasingly difficult financial environment.

“Local government continues to be asked to do more every year: new responsibilities, new compliance requirements, additional reporting obligations, emergency management expectations, climate adaptation requirements, childcare reforms, waste reforms, and increasing community expectations.

“While local government is expected to tighten our belts, other levels of government continue to transfer responsibilities down to councils without providing the funding required to properly deliver them.”

“My concern is where we'll be in five, 10, 15 or 20 years’ time if this trend continues.

“So I'm quite proud of the draft budget that we're putting out today. It reflects responsible financial management in a very difficult environment, and I look forward to seeing what the public have to say when we put it out for public feedback.”

Deputy Mayor Laurie Hickey said the 2.75% rate cap against the current CPI of 3%+ is going to be felt.

“CPI is a measure of the increased cost of a basket of household items. Rural councils like Corangamite rarely purchase household items so that figure is much higher.

“This year’s budget overview shows an operating deficit of $2.04 million has been budgeted with a capital works program of $19.05 million.

“This capital works program is about delivering real outcomes for our communities and investing where it matters most.

“The largest component is our road network, with almost $10 million committed to rehabilitation, upgrades, resheeting and resealing.

“Importantly, we are making a significant investment into the Naroghid landfill to manage increasing waste volumes and protect the long-term sustainability of our waste operations.

“And we continue to invest in the facilities our communities use every day — our pools, libraries, public toilets and depots — because maintaining community infrastructure is just as important as delivering new projects.

“This is a balanced and responsible program. It focuses on renewal, reliability and long-term planning, while continuing to provide the infrastructure our communities expect and deserve.”

Key elements of the budget include:

• A $19.05 million capital works program, including:
• • $9.95 million for road renewal and upgrades
  • $3.8 million for plant and fleet replacement
  • $2.0 million investment in Naroghid landfill
  • $1.2 million for buildings and facility upgrades (including early years facilities and ageing pool assets)
• Continued investment in community facilities, safety and asset condition data
• Targeted economic development projects including planning, tourism and car parking initiatives as part of $2.2 million of operating projects
• Ongoing support for the community with over $320,000 in grants and events funding

Rates are proposed to increase by 2.75% in line with the State Rate Cap, with waste charges rising by 6.67% reflecting increased State levies, collection costs, and fuel costs.

Overall, the draft budget maintains services, introduces new initiatives and keeps Council’s finances stable under constrained conditions.

Over the next year, this budget will enable Council to:

• Implement the Urban Street Tree Asset Management program;
• Rehabilitate Cross Forest Road and Fords Road;
• Implement swimming pool renewal audit findings;
• Complete community Otway, Skipton and Larralea fire recovery activities;

• Implement energy and water efficiencies at Council facilities;

• Implement the Early Years Plan 2025-2035;
• Upgrade Terang Stadium;
• Bond Street, Cobden, to be sealed from Grayland Street to Camperdown-Cobden Road;
• Replace the timber deck of the Peters Road bridge;
• Map roadside vegetation and weeds;
• Replace town and locality signs; and
• Refresh the Council website.

The draft is available at corangamite.vic.gov.au/Budget2026-2027 and the Civic Centre, 181 Manifold Street, Camperdown.

Anyone wishing to provide feedback on the proposed Budget can do so online or in writing addressed to Chief Executive Officer, Corangamite Shire Council, PO Box 84 Camperdown, 3260.

Written feedback must be received before 5 pm Tuesday 9 June.

Council will meet to consider adoption of the Budget on Tuesday 30 June at the Killara Centre in Camperdown.