Your City, Your Say

Every year we develop a new Annual Business Plan, update our Long-Term Financial Plan and invite our residents, ratepayers and businesses to provide feedback. The process provides you with the opportunity to have your say on the level of service and activities undertaken by the Council before the final budget is adopted.

How we create our Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget

When we develop a Draft Plan and Budget, we seek to achieve a delicate balance between responsible spending, long term sustainability and delivering projects and services for our community's current and future needs.

Our draft plans are guided by:

• Our 10 Year Strategic Plan and Strategic Directions to meet community's aspirations for a liveable, sustainable community
• Our Four Year Business Plan and other high-level plans in our Strategic Management Framework
• Feedback from community throughout the year.

Importantly, we look at all feedback from our community with any new information before the Final Annual Business Plan Budget is set in June.

What is in the Draft Plans for 2026/2027

The Draft Plan outlines council’s major projects, priorities and proposed spending for the upcoming financial year. It shows how Council proposes to manage its annual $122 million budget to deliver quality services while maintaining a large and diverse asset portfolio valued at over one billion dollars across the council area.

It proposes a 4.8% average rate increase to support ongoing services and capital project delivery. For the average residential property, this equates to an estimated $99 per year, or about $1.90 per week.

It includes proposed investments of $47.2 million in capital works including community and sporting facilities, playgrounds, and capital work programs including stormwater upgrades, footpaths, and road upgrades. This total proposed spend is made up of $17.9 million for the renewal of assets and $29.3 million for new and upgraded assets.

Council is keeping rates as low as possible whilst delivering necessary projects that will deliver much-needed upgrades to community facilities and improve the environmental sustainability of our community.

How to get involved

Community consultation commences on Friday 1 May 2026 and closes on Thursday 21 May 2026 at 11:59pm.

You can have your say in person, in writing or online.

You can read the Draft Plans online or visit our Administration Centre, Cove Civic Centre, Park Holme Library and the Marion Culture Centre to view a printed copy.