Prioritisation of existing services and assets is at the heart of Hobsons Bay City Council's 2025-26 Annual Budget.
The 2025-26 budget was adopted at Monday night's Council meeting.
As well as passing the budget, Council also approved the Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-26 to 2028-29.
A draft version of the budget for the next financial year was shared at the April council meeting, with the community having their say over the following weeks.
The budget will deliver more than $63 million in capital works projects, including:
$21.95 million for roads, $3.37 million on drains and $2.26 million for footpaths and cycleways
$12.4 million for recreation and open space including parks, leisure and community facilities and other infrastructure
$7.13 million on sporting and recreational facilities, part of $14.45 million allocated towards buildings
The capital works program will cover major projects, which includes:
Altona Beach entry and esplanade redevelopment
Altona Hockey Club pavilion major upgrade
Implementing stage two works to upgrade Laverton's McCormack Park
Planting an additional 5,000 trees in line with the current Urban Forest Strategy.
Community services funded through the budget include support for older people and younger people with disabilities, early years, child health, and youth services; Council+ service centres, libraries and community centres; community development; and arts and culture.
Following community engagement during the budget drafting process, some key projects to be included in the next financial year's budget include:
Funding for Writers Out West Hobson Bay (previously the Homegrown Authors Program)
Increased funding towards a new sports field fence at Altona's AW Bond Reserve and renewing the fence along Newport's John Liston Lane
Funding for Newport's Substation for a further 12 months
BayFit Swim Centre upgrade works
Residential rates will increase by an average of 2.18 per cent, below the three per cent rate cap set by the state government. Rates will increase by an average of three per cent across property categories.
All 2025-26 budget documents are available on our budget webpage.
Quotes attributable to Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Cr Daria Kellander:
"This budget focuses on getting us back to basics. It looks to address the issues facing everyone right across our city.
"We know times are tough at the moment, so we are committed to supporting our hard-working ratepayers through responsible financial management.
"This budget puts us in a position to best provide services for our community now and into the future."
