Draft budget endorsed and now welcoming community feedback

Published on 24 April 2025

Community feedback is now being sought on Council’s 2025/26 Draft Annual Budget and other key strategic documents for the year ahead.

Baw Baw Shire Council endorsed the draft budget and associated documents for community consultation at yesterday’s Council meeting for a four-week period, with feedback submissions closing on Wednesday 21 May.

This is the first draft budget for the Council term and has been shaped through early community engagement which took place in January, along with extensive time and careful deliberation. This budget champions the community’s needs and aspirations by supporting sporting infrastructure, celebrating arts and culture, expanding community grants and boosting support for events that bring us together.

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Cr Danny Goss said the draft budget proposed a balanced and financially sustainable approach to funding the essential infrastructure and services delivered to our fast-growing community.

Council continues to navigate the challenges of our growing community and demand for services, while striving to remain financially sustainable. Although approximately $800,000 in new rates is collected annually from people moving to our region, the cost of maintaining and expanding services to match community growth significantly outweighs this revenue.

Despite these pressures, Council remains committed to delivering a liveable, well-supported community. This year’s budget reflects that commitment as “it’s both financially responsible and responsive to the needs of our growing Shire,” said the Mayor.

The draft budget is headlined by a proposed $141 million operating budget and $46 million Annual Capital Works Program enabling Council to enhance the liveability of our Shire through the delivery of essential services and community assets.

Some key highlights in the proposed budget include:

  • An ongoing annual amount of $500,000 will be set aside for natural disasters response.
  • $100,000 ongoing increase to the Community Grants Program.
  • $20,000 extension to the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee program.
  • Continue to progress the Significant Tree Register Project in preparation for an amendment to the Baw Baw Shire Planning Scheme.
  • Preparation for the introduction of Council’s Food Organics and Green Organics (FOGO) service.
  • Implementation of the Economic Development and Visitor Economy Strategy.
  • Strategic planning and review of the Burke Street Sporting and Logan Park Precincts
  • Delivery of Copelands Road, Warragul upgrade - $3 million
  • Delivery of Drouin Streetscape Works (Commercial Place) - $1.6 million
  • Design of Longwarry Pavillion
  • Delivery of Dowton Park Pavilion Upgrade, Yarragon - $2.3 million
  • Delivery of Rollo Street Masterplan Project, Yarragon - $1 million
  • Strategic Land Purchases - $6 million

“We are deeply committed to working alongside our community to deliver the priority projects and services that matter most to our growing community. I want to thank the community members that got involved in the early budget consultation at the beginning of the year and encourage everyone to provide further feedback on what is proposed for the year ahead. We are listening and welcome all feedback,” said the Mayor.

The total suite of documents available for public exhibition includes the Draft Budget 2025/26, Draft Capital Works Program 2025/26 and Draft Revenue and Rating Plan 2025/26 - 2028/29.

To review these key strategic documents and provide a feedback submission, please visit bawbawconnect.com.au/hub-page/budget

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