Colac Otway Shire Council has approved in-principle its 2025-26 Financial Statements and Performance Statement, highlighting a year of sound financial management and investment in infrastructure and services.
Adopted at Council's meeting on Tuesday 13 October, the statements outline Council's financial performance and progress against key service and performance measures over the past financial year.
They also provide insight into Council's capacity to maintain assets, deliver essential services and plan for future investment.
CEO Andrew Tenni said the results demonstrated Council's commitment to balancing the delivery of essential services with the responsible management of public funds.
"These statements show Council has continued to carefully manage its finances while delivering the infrastructure, services and initiatives our community relies on every day," Mr Tenni said.
"In a challenging economic environment, we have remained focused on maintaining financial sustainability while investing in the priorities that matter most to residents."
- Council recorded an operating surplus of $11.69 million in 2025-26, representing an improvement of $9.61 million on the previous year's surplus of $2.08 million.
- Total revenue for the year was $81.25 million, compared with $72.44 million in 2024-25 and above the budgeted figure of $63.10 million.
During 2025-26 Council delivered $18.14 million in capital works during the year, with 68.6 per cent directed towards renewing existing assets such as roads, buildings and community infrastructure.
"This is over $4 million more than the previous year which is a great outcome for Council and the community, Mr Tenni said.
The Performance Statement measures Council's achievements against a range of indicators established under the Local Government Performance Reporting Framework.
Mr Tenni said the results reflected Council's focus on continuous improvement, accountability and effective governance.
"These Statements provide an important snapshot of how Council is performing and how community resources are being managed," he said.
"They demonstrate our commitment to transparency, accountability and ensuring value for money for our ratepayers."
The Financial Statements and Performance Statement will now be presented to the community through Council's Annual Report.
