Council
4 July, 2025
Corangamite Shire adopts 2025-26 budget
CORANGAMITE Shire councillors adopted the 2025-2026 Budget at a special meeting in Camperdown on Monday.
Mayor councillor Kate Makin said the $55.6 million Budget was focused on building a connected, thriving, healthy, active and resilient community while improving the environment and demonstrating strong community leadership.
“This Budget supports the strategic objectives outlined in the Community Vision 2040 and the new Council Plan 2025-2029,” she said.
“It includes a rate increase of three per cent in line with the State Government rate cap.
“The waste management charge per eligible household will increase by 3.93 per cent due to higher State Government levies and waste collection costs.
“Despite those and other cost pressures, the Budget maintains existing service levels and funds necessary capital projects.
“We have allocated $16.7 million for capital works including – but not limited to – roads and bridges, footpaths, buildings, and plant and equipment.”
Cr Makin said the Budget will maintain council’s financial stability.
“The Budget maintains council’s financial stability while introducing new initiatives to benefit the community,” she said.
“In response to the economic and social pressures on our communities, council has allocated $500,000 for a dedicated drought response package.
“Specific programs will be confirmed after the State Government Drought Response Task Force announces its measures, so we don’t duplicate.”
New initiatives include the implementation of the Grow Corangamite Planning Scheme Amendment, support for additional childcare capacity, Stage One of the township signage renewal program, the implementation of the Port Campbell parking strategy, an urban street tree audit, enhancements to digital systems and internal live-streaming capacity and progressing the Climate Change Action Plan and energy efficiency upgrades.
Major investments include $8.4 million into roads, bridges and drainage, $3.51 million into plant and equipment, $2.87 million into waste management, $900,000 into building and improvements, $465,000 into community grants, $360,000 into aiding childcare opportunities, $350,000 into pool upgrades, $224,000 into footpaths and cycleways and $196,000 into the Lismore footbridge replacement.
The major road rehabilitations include $971,000 into widening Noogee Road west of Terang, $565,000 into Timboon-Curdievale Road, $382,000 into Linton Road, $342,000 into Sisters Noorat Road, $306,000 into Gnarpurt Road and $305,000 into Burkes Road.
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