Council adopts 2025-2026 Budget

Published on 19 June 2025

Mount Alexander Shire Council has adopted a $56 million budget for the year ahead, following community consultation and feedback.

Highlights from the budget include active transport, carbon offsetting initiatives and levee banks.

Other features include $17 million in capital works to improve infrastructure such as roads, bridges, drains, and footpaths, as well as strong investment in our community facilities.

Council is responsible for delivering more than 100 services to the community, including family and children’s services, youth programs, aged care, business and economic development, community planning and development, waste management, library services, and emergency management.

Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Mayor, Councillor Rosie Annear, said that Council is proud to deliver a budget that was created collaboratively with the community.

“Community consultation is a big part of the budget process and this year we heard from more residents and local organisations than ever before,” said Mayor Annear.

“We took these submissions into consideration and have worked diligently to create a budget that meets our statutory obligations and endeavours to respond to the wide-ranging needs and priorities of our diverse communities.

“Roads, recreation, parks and gardens, and arts and culture were highlighted as important focus areas.

“We’ll be providing funding support to local events and organisations such as: Nalderun, MainFM, Castlemaine Safe Space, Newstead Live, YIMBY, Castlemaine Fringe Festival, Castlemaine State Festival, Business Mount Alexander, the Chewton Pool, and Harcourt Community House.

“We’ve also allocated funding to develop a shire-wide Biodiversity Strategy, and we’ll be undertaking some much-needed infrastructure projects too, including public toilet improvements, upgrades to sports and recreation assets, and annual works on roads, footpaths, bridges, and pools.

“We’re increasing funding towards the prevention of family and gender-based violence, and to help deliver the Fair Access Policy across the shire.

“Following strong feedback from community consultation, we’ll be allocating funding towards the continued operation of the Maldon Caravan Park for the next 12 months.

“Increasing affordable housing in the shire remains a priority for Council and community alike, and we’re proud to be continuing our work in that area over the next 12 months.”

The budget includes an increase to average rates income of 3%, in line with the rate cap set by the Victorian Government.

Waste charges have been increased by 3.5% to reflect the rising costs associated with waste management as we prepare to roll out additional waste streams in accordance with the State Government’s direction.

“The budget process has been a particularly difficult one this year,” said Mayor Annear.

“As a rural Council we face increasing challenges, and are relying on grant opportunities from State and Federal Government as a source of funding, more and more – particularly for new infrastructure and big projects.

“We see the effects of the housing and cost-of-living crises affecting so many people and organisations in our shire, and know that community need is extremely high.

“All of this means we’re having to make increasingly hard decisions when developing our budget and we’re not always able to do all the things we’d like to do.

“This year, more than ever, we’ve had to tighten everything, as we continue to try and do more with less.

“That said, we’ve developed a budget that I’m proud to work with my Councillors and Council staff to deliver over the next year.

“As you read this document, I hope you’re able to appreciate the forest for the trees - all the good things we’re funding in the year ahead both big and small.”

Budget highlights

Capital works

The budget includes $17 million for capital works to improve infrastructure such as roads, bridges, drains and footpaths.

• The redevelopment of Frederick Street, funded by the Federal Government ($6m in 2025-2026).
• The redevelopment and extension of the pavilion at Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve ($1.5m and subject to Government funding outcomes).
• Continuing the development of levee banks in Campbells Creek ($900k).
• Continuing a number of annual renewal and replacement programs across a range of assets, including community buildings ($827k) and swimming pools ($144k), and renewals and upgrades to our roads ($2.3m), including resealing, major patching, resheeting of gravel roads, and guardrail replacement.
• Public toilet upgrades (a four-year program for Norwood Hill Reserve, Newstead Panmure Street Amenities, and Chewton Soldiers Memorial Park Amenities) ($275k), construction of new footpaths ($200k), a new toilet at Stanley Park, Harcourt ($150k), and irrigation improvements at John Powell reserve, Guildford ($48k).
• Year two of a two-year project to commission a public art installation ($125k, funded from our Open Space Reserve).

New and continuing initiatives

• Increasing the budget allocation for a number of services, including an additional $127k for aged care.
• The second year of an increased annual allocation of $100k, to the Castlemaine Art Museum, as they make the necessary operational and strategic changes to strengthen the future of this highly valued community facility.
• Continued budget allocations to implement actions arising from:
  • Council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan (2023-2027), which aims to improve accessibility and inclusion for people living with disability in our shire.
  • Council’s Early Years Plan (2022-2026), which focuses on children aged 0-8 and their families.
• Progressing our work on affordable housing solutions within the shire ($80k).
• Continuing to support the Chewton Swimming Pool ($79k).
• Continuing to enable the operation of Maldon Caravan Park while a long-term solution for the site is determined ($100k).
• Providing support for family violence assistance and prevention ($15k).
• Exploring options for increasing childcare within the shire ($50k).
• Continuing to support Nalderun ($12k).
• Working on designs to upgrade the Maldon playground ($40k).
• Investigating renewal options at Elphinstone’s Sawpit Gully Recreation Reserve ($20k).
• Developing designs to improve traffic management and pedestrian safety at Castlemaine Primary School ($17k).
• Hosting the Mount Alexander Business Awards ($47k).
• Contributions to the following community organisation’s and events:
  • MainFM ($10k)
  • Castlemaine Safe Space ($15k)
  • Newstead Live ($6.7k)
  • YIMBY ($10k)
  • Castlemaine Fringe Festival ($10k)
  • Business Mount Alexander ($10k)
  • Newstead Arts Precinct ($10k)
  • Harcourt Community House ($7k)

The adopted 2025-2026 Budget can be viewed at Castlemaine’s Civic Centre or online at www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/Our-Budget.

Photo by Penny Ryan.