Mayoral Matters | June 27, 2025
Published on 27 June 2025
Over the past several months councillors have been listening closely to our community, hearing what matters most identifying community needs and using feedback to help shape our 2025- 2026 Budget, which will be linked directly to the implementation of our four-year Council Plan.
Our Budget and four-year Council Plan, which has been guided by you, will focus on major projects, maintaining our infrastructure including 3370kms of local roads; supporting local businesses; running programs; and responding to community needs to essential everyday services that keep our shire running.
This year's Budget has been challenging due to a range of factors, including operating within a rate- capped environment, rising inflation and reduced funding opportunities from state and federal governments.
Northern Grampians Shire Council, being a small rural council, does not have the rate revenue of large metropolitan councils.
We have a population of 11,948 residents, compared with other larger shires such as Cardinia, based in the state's southeast, which has 132,289 residents.
We raise roughly $20 million through general rates and charges, whereas Cardinia raised roughly $105 million. Our total revenue combined with rate revenue and revenue from other sources such as grants and contributions is $50.9 million, whereas Cardinia's total revenue is projected to be $285 million.
We may not have the largest budget or the biggest team, like many councils have at their disposal, but what we do have is an extraordinary team who goes above and beyond every day.
With councillors and staff working together, we all bend over backwards to achieve the very best outcome through teamwork and a shared commitment to our community to help deliver our Budget and Council Plan with the limited budget we have.
As part of this budget process, we have gone through a period of cost analysis to determine ways to deliver services to become more cost efficient and cost effective, both internally and externally. We are incredibly proud of our first Budget of the new council.
We are incredibly fortunate to live and work in one of the most beautiful parts of Australia. But it is not just the natural beauty that makes this place special, it is the people. Our shared goal is simple: to love where we live. A place we are proud of. And we will do this by working together, to help deliver the very best service that we can for our community through teamwork and a shared commitment to our community.