Campaspe Shire Council is seeking community feedback to help inform decision-making regarding its 2027/28 annual budget, using its new community consultation platform Campaspe Connect.
Campaspe Shire Mayor Cr Daniel Mackrell said Council was asking community members to have their say on priorities for the 2027/28 financial year much earlier than usual so that Council could plan to deliver a budget that addressed the areas community members most wanted to see receive attention.
"As Council prepares the 2027/28 budget, we are seeking community input to help inform future investment and service delivery," Cr Mackrell said.
"We want to understand what matters most to our community so that feedback can be considered alongside other factors, such as service obligations, long-term planning requirements and available resources, when Council makes decision about the budget.
"We want to hear what our community thinks Council should prioritise, what could be improved or done differently, and what Councillors should consider as they make the choices and trade-offs required to develop the 2027/28 Budget.
"The earlier we receive community input, the better we can shape discussions, inform future budget priorities and plan to serve our community."
Areas for consideration could include:
- Assets and infrastructure (including roads, drainage and building maintenance);
- Regulatory services (including environmental health, animal management, statutory planning, local laws);
- Waste and environment (including waste management, climate action, environmental protection);
- Active recreation (including sporting and aquatic facilities, and the associated infrastructure);
- Passive recreation (including shared paths, trails, skate parks, playgrounds, open space, barbecues);
- Community services and programs (including children and youth services, health and wellbeing, positive ageing);
- Arts and culture (including libraries, public art, arts and music programs, cultural heritage); and
- Tourism and economic development (including events, regional markets, industry development).
"Community feedback will help shape Council's future budget priorities, alongside the financial and service considerations Councillors need to balance when deciding how Council's resources are allocated," Cr Mackrell said.
"This is an opportunity to tell us what's important to you."
The consultation opened on Wednesday, 21 October and will close on Wednesday, 11 November 2026.
Council welcomes your contributions through its new engagement platform Campaspe Connect; visit https://connect.campaspe.vic.gov.au/202728-annual-budget to have your say. Alternatively, you can call Council on 1300 666 535 or visit any Customer Service Centre to pick up a hard copy consultation form.
