Council's Draft 2026/27 Budget Out Now for Community Feedback
Published on 14 May 2026
Southern Grampians Shire Council has released its 2026/27 Draft Budget, Long Term Financial Plan and Pricing Register for community feedback following the May Council meeting.
Council’s annual budget process includes the development of our 2026/27 Budget as well as our Long-Term Financial Plan (LTFP) for 2026-2027 to 2026-2036. It has been completed following extensive community engagement, and prepared under a robust financial framework.
The Draft Budget details a substantial commitment of more than $17 million in capital works, complemented by funding for key community-identified initiatives, grant programs and major Council projects, representing a strong investment in the shire’s future.
The organisation’s financial focus remains operational efficiency and cost reduction to enable greater investment in community infrastructure and services. This can be seen in the consecutive record years of capital program delivery over the last three years. This includes new and upgraded assets across all classes including buildings, roads, playgrounds, and sporting facilities.
Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Dennis Heslin said the budget reflects a carefully considered approach, balancing essential investment with long-term financial sustainability, amid a challenging operating environment.
“The 2026/27 budget has been developed in a difficult economic environment, as we seek to maintain service levels and valued community facilities in the face of rising cost pressures, inflation, global uncertainty and ongoing government cost-shifting,” said Cr Heslin.
“We believe this Budget demonstrates our ability to fund major projects of regional significance, the renewal of existing assets and the continued delivery of services to the community, despite these challenges.”
Informed by 23 submissions from the Southern Grampians Community, alongside Councillor and officer input, the budget continues to deliver on the objectives and actions in the 2025-29 Council Plan, with some important projects on the horizon for the upcoming financial year.
Budget highlights:
Council has proposed a 2.75% rate increase, consistent with the rate cap set by the Minister for Local Government, down from 3% in last year’s budget. This will see $26.264 million collected in rates and charges.
The $17.245m capital works program will mean wide-ranging benefits for the community and includes:
- $6,744,000 for the roads program
- $1,900,000 for the maintenance and renewal of outdoor swimming pools
- $350,000 for work on HILACs Court One
- $106,000 for the footpath program
- $100,000 for required work on the spillway at Lake Hamilton
- $100,000 for the 2026/2027 Stormwater program
- $70,000 for the purchase of library books
- $50,000 for playground renewal and
Initiatives and community projects funded include:
- Progression of three major projects (New Hamilton Gallery, Library and Community Hub and CBD Streetscape)
- Upgrades to sound and ticketing systems at Hamilton PAC
- Cavendish and Coleraine Structure Plan Implementation into the planning scheme
- Economic Development Strategy
- Renewal of athletics facilities at Mitchell Park
- Masterplan for Wannon Falls Scenic Reserve
- Rainwater harvesting project at HILAC and Hamilton Showgrounds, subject to a grant
- Renewal of Church on Brown Street for Youth and Community use
- Support for Live4Life Southern Grampians
- Fencing of northern side of the Cavendish playground
The municipal waste charge will increase this year from $430 to $472. This increase is required due to rising costs associated with the ongoing fuel crisis and escalating service estimates. Council's waste service remains cost-neutral, meaning all charges only recover the cost to deliver the service to the community. Several initiatives have been included in the budget to ease the cost of waste removal including weekly FOGO collection in Spring, free green waste drop-offs, two green waste vouchers per household, and the out of zone service for eligible households.
The 2% early-payment discount will be removed in the 2026/27 Budget. Council has thought deeply about the impact of this decision. However, it is no longer sustainable to offer this discount in a rate capping environment. Pensioner concessions remain unaffected.
Dog and cat registration fees will rise, largely as a result of recent changes in State Government fees. The Domestic Animals Act 1994 requires Councils to pay the Treasurer a fee for every registration or renewal collected for a cat, dog, or domestic animal business. This fee has now risen to $9.00 per registration up from $4.64 last year which cannot be absorbed by Council.
Parking metres in Hamilton CBD will also see a moderate rise from $1.20 to $1.50 per hour marking the first price increase for parking in eight years.
This budget has been prepared in line with the Long-Term Financial Plan 2024-2034 which focuses on concentration on limiting expenditure growth, delivering a surplus in nine of the 10 years, with borrowings to largely be repaid within that timeframe.
“I encourage all Community members to review the Draft Budget, Long-Term Financial Plan and Pricing Register and provide feedback prior to 27 May 2026,” Cr Heslin concluded.
To view the Draft Budget 2026/27, Long-Term Financial Plan and Pricing Register visit Council’s website. Hard copies will be available to view at Council’s Brown Street Office and the Hamilton Library.