Ararat Rural City Council Adopts New Budget, Financial Plan, and Revenue & Rating Plan
At the Ararat Rural City Council Meeting held on Tuesday 27 May 2025, Council adopted its 2025-26 Budget, together with the Financial Plan 2025-2035 and Revenue & Rating Plan 2025-2029.
Council carried out extensive community engagement over the past several weeks to gather an understanding of what Ararat Rural City residents would like to see reflected in the 2025-26 Budget.
Highlights from the 2025/2026 Budget include:
- $1.49 million secured in grant funding for a new covered sports arena for the Ararat Pony Club.
- $133,000 Council contribution towards a $399,000 upgrade of the Ararat Active Transport Bicycle Network.
- $1 million to reconstruct a section of Buangor - Ben Nevis Road, on top of the $2,143,000 previous reconstruction works.
- $683,000 contribution towards the Woorndoo-Streatham Road reconstruction project (delivered in partnership with Moyne Shire Council).
- $60,000 secured for repair works to the former Cobb & Co Staging Stables in Buangor
- $148,760 Pomonal Community Hall Battery Project, supported by the 100 Neighbourhood Batteries grants program
The Financial Plan provides a ten-year financially sustainable projection regarding how the actions of the Council Plan 2025-2029 may be funded to achieve the Community Vision 2035, and is developed in the context of several strategic planning principles.
Council's Rating & Revenue Plan 2025-2029 determines the most appropriate and affordable revenue and rating approach for Council which in conjunction with other income sources will adequately finance the objectives in the Council Plan 2025-2029.
Community feedback on the Draft Budget, Financial Plan, and Revenue & Rating Plan was collected through various channels, including online submissions via Engage Ararat, email, mail, and in-person sessions held across the municipality. These sessions gave community groups, residents, and businesses a chance to speak with Councillors and share their feedback.
The full Council 2025/2026 Budget, detailing other highlights and key initiatives, and the Financial Plan, and Revenue & Rating Plan are available on our website for viewing and download on our website.
"We developed our 2025/26 Budget, Financial Plan, and Revenue & Rating Plan with financial sustainability as a key principle, aiming to safeguard our municipality's future," says Ararat Rural City Council CEO, Dr Tim Harrison.
"Adopting this strategic planning framework demonstrates our continued commitment to responsible financial management. It allows us to keep delivering essential services and invest in crucial infrastructure while aiming to minimise the impact on ratepayers."
