Council invites community to view proposed budget for 2025-2026
Published on 16 April 2025
Active transport, carbon offsetting initiatives and levee banks are some of the highlights of Mount Alexander Shire Council’s proposed budget for 2025-2026.
Other features include traffic improvements and parking safety in Castlemaine, improved street lighting and toilets in Harcourt, and designs for playground improvements in Maldon.
At the Meeting of Council on Tuesday 15 April, Council resolved to make the proposed 2025-2026 budget available for public feedback for two weeks from Wednesday 16 April through to Wednesday 30 April.
Of a planned $56 million for the financial year, $17.3 million is allocated to capital works, which will improve infrastructure and community facilities.
“Each year, Councillors and Council staff spend an enormous amount of time planning, considering and crafting our budget for the next financial year,” said Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Mayor, Councillor Rosie Annear.
“In developing the budget, we must first take into account what it will cost to continue delivering our existing services and funding our capital works initiatives. Then, with the very small portion that remains, we look to fund community projects brought to our attention through public budget submissions.
“Between December 2024 and February 2025, more than 80 community members and groups gave feedback to inform the budget, requesting funding for projects and initiatives throughout the shire.
“This is the largest number of submissions I’ve seen during my time on Council, and is more than double what we received last year.
“It’s fantastic that our community sees Council as a source of support, although it does make it challenging when it comes to allocating funds.
“This year, there were so many valuable submissions from individuals and organisations suggesting a range of projects and initiatives to benefit the community. The volume and strength of these submissions, paired with an incredibly tight budget, led to many robust conversations and tough decisions.
“We’ll be providing funding support to the Castlemaine State Festival and local community radio station MainFM, as well as a shire-wide Biodiversity Strategy that we’ll be developing with local landcare and environmental groups.
“Following strong community feedback, we’ll be allocating funding towards the continued operation of the Maldon Caravan Park for the next 12 months.
“We’re increasing funding towards the prevention of family and gender-based violence, which feels incredibly important.
“We know our community loves to celebrate Christmas, so we’ll be doing more to spread Christmas cheer within our shire.
“We’ll be undertaking some much-needed infrastructure projects, too – street lighting, toilets and road improvements in Harcourt; a new public toilet in Stanley Park; irrigation improvements at John Powell Reserve; and drainage along Farnsworth Street.
“We’re also continuing to progress our work on affordable housing solutions, which is – and remains – a priority for Council.”
The proposed budget includes an increase to average rates income of 3%, in line with the rate cap set by the Victorian Government. Waste charges have been increased by 3.5% to reflect the rising costs of waste management.
“Every year, it’s costing us more to deliver the same things, yet unfortunately we’re not able to increase the budget to match these additional expenditures,” said Mayor Annear.
“This year, more than ever, we’ve had to tighten everything, as we continue to try and do more with less.
“That said, we’ve developed a balanced budget – one that I’m proud to work with my fellow Councillors and staff to deliver.
“I encourage everyone to read through the proposed budget to see where we’ll be focusing our investment over the next twelve months.
“I hope community members can appreciate all the positive things we’re funding – big and small – while also acknowledging the increasing financial challenges that rural Councils are facing.
Have your say
Feedback on the proposed budget can be made through the following channels:
Submissions must be made in writing and lodged by 5.00pm on Wednesday 30 April.
Community members who provide written feedback on the proposed budget during this second round of consultation may indicate if they would like the opportunity to speak to it at an Unscheduled Meeting of Council on Tuesday 13 May.
Councillors will seek to adopt the budget at the June Council Meeting.
The proposed budget can be viewed online at www.shape.mountalexander.vic.gov.au.
A hard copy is available to read at the Castlemaine Civic Centre.
Budget highlights from the capital works program
- Continuing a number of annual renewal and replacement programs across a range of assets, including community buildings ($300,000), accessibility upgrades ($252,000), swimming pools ($144,000), and renewals and upgrades to our roads ($2.3 million), including resealing, major patching, resheeting of gravel roads, and guardrail replacement.
- A four-year public toilet upgrade program for Norwood Hill Reserve, Newstead Panmure Street, and Chewton Soldiers Memorial Park) ($275,000 included in community buildings budget in 2025-2026), construction of new footpaths ($200,000), a new toilet at Stanley Park, Harcourt ($150,000), and irrigation improvements at John Powell Reserve, in Guildford ($48,000).
- Continuing the development of levee banks in Campbells Creek ($900,000).
- Year two of a two-year project to commission a public art installation ($125,000 from our Open Space Reserve fund).
- The redevelopment of Frederick Street in Castlemaine, funded by the Federal Government ($6 million in 2025-2026).
- The redevelopment and extension of the pavilion at Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve ($1.5 million and subject to Government funding outcomes).
Government funding
Council has been proactive and successful in sourcing grant income to help fund our capital works program. Council expects to receive $9.8 million from both State and Federal Governments to fund a number of projects this financial year.
New and continuing initiatives
- Increasing the budget allocation to a number of services, including an additional $127,000 for aged care.
- The second year of an increased annual allocation of $100,000, to the Castlemaine Art Museum, as they make the necessary operational and strategic changes to strengthen the future of this highly valued community facility.
- Continued budget allocations to implement actions in:
- Council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan (2023-2027), which aims to improve accessibility and inclusion for people living with disability in our shire.
- Council’s Early Years Plan (2022-2026), which focuses on children aged 0-8 and their families.
- Progressing our work on affordable housing solutions within the shire ($80,000).
- Continuing to support the Chewton Swimming Pool ($79,000).
- Continuing to enable the operation of Maldon Caravan Park while a long-term solution for the site is determined ($100,000).
- Providing support for family violence assistance and prevention ($15,000).
- Exploring options for increasing childcare within the shire ($50,000).
- Continuing to support Nalderun ($12,000).
- Working on designs to upgrade the Maldon playground ($40,000).
- Investigating renewal options at Elphinstone’s Sawpit Gully Recreation Reserve ($20,000).
- Developing designs to improve traffic management and pedestrian safety at Castlemaine Primary School ($17,000).
- Hosting the Mount Alexander Business Awards ($47,000).