Council has released its $59.10 million draft budget for 2023-24, and invites the community to review and provide feedback. 

The draft budget includes a record $19.56 million investment in capital works projects, which are predominately funded by Council.

“The budget has been prepared in one of the toughest financial environments in recent history. Our Shire has been significantly impacted by the COVID pandemic, multiple extreme natural disasters, rising inflation and interest rates, sector-wide shortages of construction contractors and extraordinary increases to material and construction costs,” said Mayor Cr Brian Hood.

"We have sought to deliver a fiscally responsible budget that aims to achieve actions in our Council Plan, whilst balancing available resources and community expectations. We are in a delicate and challenging financial position which we will continue to manage prudently,” he said.

Council is continuing to invest in elements that are important to the community and that align with the priorities in the four-year Council Plan and the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan.

The budget continues the important delivery of more than 100 services to the community, including road maintenance and repair, library services, early years, youth and positive ageing programs, emergency management response, major projects, tourism, grants and more.

The budget also continues the implementation of the Sustainable Hepburn strategy, including initiatives relating to circular economy, reducing emissions, protecting the natural environment and biodiversity, low waste initiatives and climate and water resilience. $2 million has been allocated to further enhance and support statutory and strategic planning activities. This includes development of critically important town structure plans as part of our Future Hepburn project.

Rate increases have been capped at 3.5% in line with the Victorian Government’s Fair Go Rates System.

Annual waste charges will increase approximately 6.2% on average to meet the increased costs of the service. The standard annual fee for a residential property (weekly garbage collection and fortnightly recycling) will be $570 (or $10.96 per week).

The budget proposes $5.9 million of new borrowings to support the delivery of key infrastructure assets, including $1 million for stage one of critical remedial works for the Daylesford Town Hall to ensure the long-term structural integrity of the building, and $4.9 million to be allocated to the construction of the 60-kilometre Creswick Trails.

Submissions on the draft budget closed at 5pm on Thursday 8 June 2023.

Read the draft budget prior to making your submission.

Read the draft budget summary.

Read Council's media release on the draft budget.

Hepburn Shire Council is committed to protecting your privacy. The personal information requested on the draft Budget submission is being collected by Hepburn Shire Council for the purpose of gathering feedback on the draft Budget or any other directly related purpose. If you wish to alter any of the personal information you have supplied to Hepburn Shire Council, please contact Council via telephone 0353212306 or email shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au.

More information is available on Council’s website or from Council’s Privacy Officer (Manager Governance and Risk). Individuals may view Council’s Privacy Policy on Council’s website or obtain a copy from any Council office.