Councillors have adopted the Yarra Ranges Council 2026-27 Budget, delivering a financially responsible approach shaped by community feedback and focused on maintaining and renewing key community assets and infrastructure.
The Budget was endorsed at a Council meeting on Tuesday, 9 June, following community engagement on the draft.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Richard Higgins, said the budget focused on maintaining and renewing existing assets, with targeted spending on emergency management, drainage, and adapting to climate change.
"This budget reflects what we've heard from our community, primarily to focus on maintaining and improving the infrastructure we already have, while ensuring we manage Council's finances responsibly," Cr Higgins said.
"Each year, our staff and Council work hard to deliver a budget that meets the needs of the community, delivers value for money, and positions us well for the future."
"We believe this budget does just that. Our focus has shifted to responsible asset renewal; spending time improving the things we already have so they work better and keep up with the changing needs of the community.
"We're also responding to increasing climate pressures, including more frequent extreme weather events, with targeted investment in drainage improvements, emergency management and climate adaptation a major focus for us this year."
Budget highlights include
$25 million to maintain our roads, footpaths, drains and trails
$23 million to improve and maintain parks, trees, sporting facilities, bushlands and reserves
$6 million to ensure a sustainable future and respond to climate change, including emergency management
$17 million for programs and activities that support the community through all stages of life
The annual Budget allocates funding for each of Council's services and programs delivered to the community, across the 55 towns that make up the Yarra Ranges.
"We deliver more than 120 services to communities with unique needs, values and demographics, and the budget enables us to continue to deliver services at the levels appropriate to our local community," Cr Higgins said.
"From footpaths to immunisations, maintaining football ovals to youth services, Council has something for everyone across all life stages, and it's all determined in this document.
"This year's Budget continues to maintain our service levels, while carefully managing cost pressures in a constrained financial environment."
Cr Higgins said that Council had received 31 submissions on this year's budget, with some community members speaking to their submissions at a recent special Council meeting.
"We have an incredibly engaged community here in the Yarra Ranges, and receive thoughtful, considered feedback on our major projects and key strategic documents like the Budget," he said.
"I'd like to thank the community members who took time to read the draft Budget and share their thoughts. Each submission was carefully reviewed and will be responded to.
"This is a key part of the Budget process, and how we make decisions with our community."
This year's Budget confirms a rate increase of 2.75 per cent, in line with State Government Rate Capping, and increases to the Waste Service Charge to cover increased costs from the EPA's landfill levy and disposal costs.
The Emergency Services Volunteer Fund (ESVF) will again be included on this year's rates notices, collected by councils on behalf of the State Government.
Cr Higgins said Council would continue to advocate strongly on key issues impacting the community, such as the ESVF.
"Council will continue to advocate on a range of important issues, including calling on the State Government to take responsibility for collecting the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund, rather than it being included on Council rate notices," Cr Higgins said.
"We're also continuing to say 'no' to the introduction of a separate kerbside glass bin, which is not included in this year's budget, and instead support an expanded Container Deposit Scheme that delivers better outcomes for our community."
"Our role is to make the Yarra Ranges an even better place to live, work and visit. We'll continue to do what we can locally, while advocating to other levels of government for the changes our community wants and needs, particularly ahead of this year's State Election."
To read the 2026-27 Budget and associated documents in full, visit Council's website.
