MITCHELL Shire Council (MSC) unanimously passed the proposed 2026-27 budget at last Monday’s council meeting, continuing linear development within its Council Plan for 2025-29.
The bumper budget will invest in roads, footpaths, recreation facilities and infrastructure, while also ensuring the future of the growing community at large.
Councillor Andrea Pace said while it might not be pleasing to all, the budget was anticipated to accommodate the general community.
“This is a really intense document. I think it was around 500 pages that we read through over and over, trying to get everything correct,” she said.
“We believe we have done the best we can with what we’ve got, we’ve brought it out to the community, community have come back to us with a few different ideas, and we’ve implemented some of those.
“It’s not going to be pleasing for everybody, but hopefully we’ve done the general community the correct thing.”
Cr Bob Cornish said there were big decisions ahead, and hoped people across the shire were patient.
“I think the budget highlights how hard it is to accommodate the needs of all the people living across this massive shire,” he said.
“We’re a growth municipality, from Seymour down to Beveridge, we have got tough times ahead and some very hard decisions as we move forward. We are heavily reliant upon government funding until the growth catches up with the increased rate revenue.”
Deputy Mayor Timothy Hanson, in speaking for the motion, outlined the key spending that will take place across the 2026/27 financial year.
“We have $16.9 million on roads and bridges in this budget, $11.63 million on buildings, $2.2 million on leisure and community facilities and another $1.2 million for footpaths and cycleways which are much needed,” he said.
“Also with the community input, 90 individual submitters put 133 proposals forward to us. We’ve got six ideas that are fully funded for next year, with 15 more sitting in the four-year budget, and six will progress through advocacy.”
The delivery of a number of projects will be funded, including the renewal of the netball courts at Kings Park in Seymour, upgrades to the Sue Marstaeller Pavilion at LB Davern Reserve, and road improvements at Kilmore East Road, Lancefield-Pyalong Road, a roundabout at Windham and Queen Streets, Dry Creek and Wandong Avenue, Wallara Waters Boulevard, Hamilton Street and Hawdon Street and Powlett Street.
Also included was capital funding for existing projects, which Cr Nathan Clark was excited most about in speaking for the budget.
“We also have in that allocation, the planning and design phases for the Old Sydney Road upgrade as well, so it’s not just the rates that are funding this, there’s a dependency on grant funding, and it points to our advocacy of the organisation, how important it is to unlock those funds from state and federal governments so we can get things like the Old Sydney Road upgrade,” he said.
“It’d be great if they continued all the way up into the new road reservations of the land up in connecting the south of Wallan to the rest of the north/south corridor, but we’re grateful for what we got there,” Cr Clark said..
“Capital funding for ongoing constructions of the Seymour Community Wellbeing Hub, that will be fantastic, looking forward to seeing that delivered, and the Wallan East Integrated Family and Children’s Centre, which will see a lot of kids congregating in one small area there.”
The budget also includes a new public waste charge for all rateable properties from July 1, which funds waste services like resource recovery centres, collection of public place bins and illegally dumped waste, while the annual waste service charge will be reduced and apply to those who have a kerbside bin service.
Mayor John Dougall reflected on the balanced budget to ensure Mitchell Shire’s growth going forward.
“This budget delivers practical investment in the infrastructure, services and facilities our community relies on every day while continuing to plan responsibly for Mitchell’s future growth,” he said.
“We know roads, footpaths, recreation facilities and access to local services remain key priorities for our community and this budget responds directly to that feedback.
“Council has worked hard to balance the growing demands placed on local government while continuing to invest in projects that improve safety, liveability and community wellbeing across the Shire.
“Importantly, this budget keeps us focused on delivering essential infrastructure and maintaining financial sustainability while advocating strongly for additional investment from other levels of government.”