Council plans to invest $10.5 million in community infrastructure and assets in the draft 2026/27 Budget, continuing its commitment to maintaining and improving key community infrastructure across the Shire. This is a significant investment in roads and other assets.

Some of the projects in the 2026/27 capital works program are:

• Albert Street, Daylesford - road safety works ($300,000) with remaining works in 2027/28
• Annual Road Reseal Program ($1,345,000)
• Ford Street and Back Glenlyon Road reconstruction ($721,000)
• Glenlyon Pavilion construction (Stage 1) ($350,000)
• Gravel Road Resheet Program ($878,000)
• Porcupine Ridge Road, Coomoora – Road reconstruction ($792,000)
• Year 1 of 2 - Public Street and Reserve Bin Renewal Program ($200,000)

Read the draft Budget for more information.

The draft 2026/27 Budget contains a number of proposed budget initaives:

1. Adoption of Rural Hepburn planning amendment pending Ministerial approval.
2. Begin construction works associated with upgrades to the Glenlyon Pavilion
3. Complete a service review to identify efficiencies and opportunities within the waste services.
4. Conduct and report the Annual Review of the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan
5. Draft Clunes Flood study presented to Councillor briefing.
6. Enhance current systems and processes for recruitment, onboarding, induction, development and performance management to build a high-performance culture.
7. Enhance the systems, processes and cultural conditions that support psychologically safe workplaces and constructive, respectful conversations.
8. Finalises an achievable masterplan for the Clunes Recreation (Bull Milgate) Reserve, including schematic design for the Clunes Community Centre and Netball Pavilion.
9. Following a review, develop an action plan with agreed actions to improve the customer experience that incorporates digital enablement.
10. Implement recommendations of the Councils review of its Aquatics service as adopted by Council.
11. Implement recommendations of the Councils review of its Community Engagement Approach and Advisory Committees as adopted by Council.
12. Participate in the development of the Ballarat Regional Strategic Transport Assessment (as part of the Greater Ballarat Alliance of Councils) and endorse a final report that will guide planning and investment in essential transport infrastructure and services across Ballarat and the surrounding region.
13. Prepare and adoption of an implementation plan setting out how the Integrated Transport Strategy will be integrated into Council’s processes and work programs.
14. Review alternative revenue opportunities is to identify, assess, and implement new revenue streams.
15. Support the community and respond to the Minister's Environmental Effects Statement determination regarding the Western Renewable Link.
16. Undertake a review and comparisons of Council’s asset data to ensure consistency between the Asset Plan (renewal figures) and Budget (Depreciation figures).
17. Undertake a review of Councils Outdoor Dining and Trading Policy
18. Undertake a review of Signature Event funding criteria within Councils Events strategy, reporting to Council how that assessment criteria be reviewed and explore the principle of how economic sustainability can be integrated into future funding.
19. Undertake advocacy actions in the lead up to the 2026 State Election.
20. Undertake an independent review of Council’s Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP), considering we are now halfway through the timeframe outlined in the Financial Vision. This review should assess the effectiveness of Council in delivering on its financial objectives.
21. Work with Gellung Warl (the Government entity responsible to Treaty Implementation) to understand the role of Local Government.

Read the draft Budget for more information.

The draft 2026/27 Budget includes an updated fees and charges schedule for Council.

Fees and charges account for 4.2 per cent of Council income and play an important role in funding important services for our community.

Council collects two types of fees and charges:

• Statutory fees and fines (set by the Victorian Government) ($940,000)
• User fees and charges (set by Council) ($922,000).

Read the draft Budget for more information.