Have your say on Council’s budget for 2025-26
Published on 30 April 2025
The Hobsons Bay community is invited to have its say on Council’s budget for the next financial year.
The Proposed Budget 2025-26 will be available for feedback until Wednesday 21 May 2025 after Council approved it to go out for community consultation at its meeting on Tuesday 29 April.
The proposed budget is available to view and comment on at participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au
The 2025-26 budget prioritises existing services and assets, with Council mindful of the cost-of-living pressures on our community.
The proposed budget is based on an operational surplus of $8.35 million, which will be directed towards our $55.89 million capital works program. It will have significant investment in renewing and upgrading our existing assets to tackle the asset renewal backlog, which is much needed, and to ensure that these assets continue to meet our community’s ongoing needs.
This includes funding directed to vital infrastructure including:
- $21.92 million towards roads, $3 million for drains, and $1.75 million to footpaths and cycleways.
- $9.6 million towards recreation and open space including parks, open space and streetscapes, bridges, off-street carparks, recreational, leisure and community facilities, and other infrastructure.
- $11.78 million towards buildings, including sporting and recreational facilities ($6.22 million), the building renewal program ($3.83 million), heritage buildings ($734,000), and community centres ($731,000).
- $1.14 million towards waste management.
Some of the major projects included in the capital works program are:
- $3 million towards the Altona Hockey Club pavilion upgrade
- $2.8 million to Laverton’s McCormack Park upgrade work
- $1.66 million on the street lighting LED upgrade program, replacing all existing streetlights with brighter, more energy-efficient LED lights
Council continues to fund vital community services in the proposed budget. These services help keep residents of all ages safe, healthy and socially connected. Highlights of the funding for these services include:
- $4.27 million to deliver universal primary health (maternal and child health) and immunisation service available to all Hobsons Bay families with children, from birth to school age.
- $2.3 million for support and activities for older residents, younger people with disabilities, and carers.
- $1.88 million for youth services, supporting local young people with a range of social activities, leadership development, and mental health and support services
Rates for residential properties will increase by an average of 2.25 per cent, lower than the three per cent rate cap set by the state government. Rates across all property categories including commercial, industrial, and petrochemical properties will increase by an average of three per cent.
Rate relief remains available to those who need it through our Financial Hardship Policy. To help support our local traders and boost economic activity within our local business precincts there will be free parking in winter across the whole municipality. Additionally, Council-funded pensioner rebates will increase from $75 to $100.
Waste collection service charges will be capped at a 10 per cent increase for 2025-26, driven by a 30 per cent increase of the State Government Landfill levy.
Quotes attributable to Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Cr Daria Kellander:
“This is the first draft budget of our new four-year Council term. While past budgets focused on new infrastructure, this year’s budget applies a common sense approach prioritising existing assets and services that our community use every day.
“Its goal is to deliver on the basics, and to remain focused on ensuring vital programs, infrastructure and services can service our community now and into the future. Because we understand how vital these are to our residents.
“Given the ongoing cost of living pressures and the hardship many are facing, it is important that Council maintains a sensible approach to its finances to enable long-term financial sustainability and stability.
“We’re continuing to invest in our city while managing costs responsibly, avoiding unnecessary debt, and preparing for the challenges and opportunities ahead.”