This budget delivers a  balanced approach to financial responsibility and delivering meaningful value to our community. It includes:  

• $23 million investment in maintaining our roads, footpaths, drains and trails 

• $24 million investment in improving and maintaining parks, sporting facilities, bushlands and reserves  

• $5 million investment in ensuring a resilient future and responding to climate change, including emergency management  

• $17 million investment in programs and activities that support the community through all stages of life .

This budget demonstrates our continued investment in the services and assets our community values most. This includes: 

• $9.2 million for roadworks including resurfacing 39 different road segments, improvements to carparks and traffic works 

• $2.8 million in drainage works and improvements including landslip risk management projects

• $2.3 million to improve existing footpaths and establish new ones 

• $10.3 million for recreational and community facilities renewal and improvement works 

• $12.9 million for parks, open space, and streetscapes including Yarra Valley Trail, Warburton Bike Park, Don Road Healesville trail link, improvements to the Lilydale Lake and jetty and various township improvements.  

• $3 million in Maternal and Child Health services 

• $454,000 in Youth programs, including social connection and early intervention 

• $2.1 million in emergency preparedness 

• $2.4 million in developing and implementing climate change strategies for extreme weather 

• $5.4 million in maintaining and planning public land including weed control, vegetation management and planned burns 

• $3.2 million in community grants and partnerships

The challenge each year for Council is to deliver a budget that meets the needs and expectations of our communities, while remaining affordable. 

In setting the Council budget, we must consider how the actions in the Council Plan will be paid for, as well as all other legally required responsibilities. 

While we have discretion on how Council budget is allocated, there are sometimes consequences to these decisions. For example: 

• We could spend less on asset renewal projects to reduce expenses. However, this would increase maintenance costs, to try keep the assets functioning while waiting for replacement/renewal. 

• We could delay the construction of new infrastructure, but this would mean placing demands on existing infrastructure, like roads, beyond what is acceptable. 

• We could reduce service levels, like mowing less frequently, however, this would mean that our parks and natural spaces would be less inviting and/or not as functional. 

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows how the prices of everyday goods and services change over time. It’s an important measure because it helps track inflation and the rising cost of living. 

CPI also affects Council’s budget because many of the things we pay for — like electricity and fuel for roadwork equipment and streetlights — become more expensive when CPI increases. Many of our contracts are also tied to CPI, so when CPI goes up, the cost of delivering services and running Council operations can rise too. 

Setting Council’s budget is becoming more difficult as we try to stay financially sustainable while still providing the same level of services and continuing to invest in community assets. Severe and unpredictable weather, along with rising living costs, means our community needs more support than ever. 

To respond to these pressures, Council is working to find efficiencies, explore new income sources and advocate for more support from other levels of government. At the same time, we are facing higher costs to deliver services, new State Government requirements and limited ways to increase revenue. Many of our assets are also ageing and need repairs or upgrades, while funding from State and Federal Governments is decreasing. 

Despite these challenges, Council remains committed to responsibly managing the facilities and infrastructure valued across our 55 townships. The 2026–27 Budget focuses on maintaining financial stability, supporting key services, and improving how we operate by finding innovative ways to deliver services and work more efficiently. 

Council’s main source of income is rates.  

Without this income, Council could not fulfil its legislated obligations to provide services on behalf of all levels of government such as planning and local laws officers or provide additional services and infrastructure such as our roads, parks, sporting grounds and community facilities. 

Rates are levied on all rateable properties across the municipality under the Local Government Act 2009. This includes all types of properties, including homes, businesses, farms and wineries. 

Council sets rates at a level sufficient to pay expenses over time, including meeting its requirements to repay debt. 

Just as income taxes and GST are used to fund services and infrastructure across the state and country, rates fund the cost of services and infrastructure across our municipality. 

They are not collected and spent for each ward or individual. Under the Local Government Act 2009, a Council must represent the current and future interests of the residents of the entire municipality. 

Therefore, when considering Council’s budget each year, Councillors must consider both the needs and priorities of the whole municipality, balanced with the needs of their ward area. This is done through discussion and feedback from each Councillor over several months. These discussions must also consider the affordability of rates for our communities and the financial sustainability of Council. 

Council recognises that rate increases can be challenging for some community members, particularly those on fixed incomes or facing financial hardship. If you anticipate difficulties meeting these payments, please contact our Rates Officers on 1300 368 333 to discuss options that may assist you. 

We invite you to have your say on Council's budget because you are a valuable source of local expertise. Your feedback will help shape Council decisions that affect residents, workers, and visitors across Yarra Ranges, now and into the future. 

All submissions are appreciated and will receive a response.  

Yarra Ranges Council takes our privacy obligations seriously and you can read more about how we treat your personal information collected on this website. 

The collection, use and disclosure of your personal information is regulated by Victorian Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014. To find out more information, please visit the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner’s website at: www.ovic.vic.gov.au

Find out more about how Council deals with your data and privacy.

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