Council releases Draft 2025-26 Budget for feedback
Published on 24 April 2025
(Updated 30 April 2025)
Surf Coast Shire Council has released its Draft 2025-26 Budget and Draft 2025-29 Revenue and Rating Plan for community feedback.
The draft budget aims to balance financial sustainability with continued investment in important community facilities and services.
It features a forecast result (Unallocated Cash Surplus) of $2.2 million, and a record capital works program to deliver new and renewed assets.
The proposed total capital works budget of $64.25 million includes planned multi-year projects worth $49.14 million such as the Wurdi Baierr Aquatic and Recreation Centre, hockey pitch at Banyul Warri Fields, and Karaaf Diversion project, along with new projects valued at $15.11 million.
There is strong focus and investment in roads and pathways, alongside new and renewed community buildings, facilities and open spaces.
Highlights of the proposed new capital allocation include:
- A major irrigation and drainage upgrade to the oval at Spring Creek Recreation Reserve, Torquay ($2.55 million);
- upgrade of Gladman Street, Winchelsea to become a sealed road ($757,064);
- unsealed road renewals on Bambra-Aireys Inlet Road ($386,000), Eagle Rock Parade in Aireys Inlet ($97,000) and Pettavel Road in Freshwater Creek ($152,000); and
- renewal of Cape Otway Road from Dysons Lane to Parish Lane, near Moriac ($200,000)
The draft budget also details the Council’s commitments to core services such as open space, civil and road maintenance (with a total budget of more than $14.3 million), waste and recycling services ($13.06 million), early years ($4.53 million), and local libraries ($850,500 contribution to the Geelong Regional Library Corporation).
Specific initiatives have been funded to help protect and enhance the natural environment, generate economic activity, support community-led projects, and keep the community safe.
These include:
- $160,000 for year two of the ‘Branching Out’ urban tree planting program;
- $148,600 for community grants;
- $87,000 for Christmas decorations and activations; and
- $64,600 to Life Saving Victoria towards lifeguards on Surf Coast beaches.
The draft budget factors in a total average rate rise of 3 per cent, which is in line with the Victorian Government’s cap.
Mayor Mike Bodsworth encouraged the community to read the budget and have its say.
“The budget is a document full of numbers but it’s about much more than numbers – it’s about the lives of the people in our shire,” Mayor Bodsworth said.
“It sets out how and where we’ll invest to support our community and see this region thrive in the years ahead.
“This budget achieves a strong balance between financial sustainability and investment in facilities and services our community values highly.
“There’s something in it for everyone – I encourage the community to visit our website, read the document and provide your feedback.”
It is the final budget under the 2021-2025 Council Plan, and will transition Council into a new four-year plan set to feature a refreshed set of strategic priorities.
Submissions are now open and will close at 10am on Monday 26 May.
DRAFT BUDGET SNAPSHOT – KEY DETAILS, FACTS AND FIGURES
Budgeted result (Unallocated Cash Surplus/Deficit):
We are budgeting for a $2.2 million Unallocated Cash Surplus.
Surpluses in 2024-25 and 2025-26 will prepare the Council for future years where continued rising costs and asset renewal requirements are expected to create an increasingly challenging financial environment.
Services:
Budget allocations for key services we will deliver to the community include:
- Open space, roads and civil infrastructure, and facilities maintenance: $14.38 million
- Waste management and resource recovery: $13.06 million
- Early years (kindergartens and occasional care): $4.53 million
- Community safety: $4.37 million
- Tourism support: $1.75 million
- Children and families support: $980,000
- Environment protection and care: $981,000
- Arts and creative economy support: $787,000
- Economic development support: $729,000
Capital works budget:
- Total: $64.25 million (a record)
- New projects: $15.11 million
- Planned multi-year projects continuing: $49.14 million
Capital works expenditure by category:
- Buildings: $31.9 million
- Infrastructure (including bridges, drainage, roads, footpaths, parks and open spaces): $28.8 million
- Plant and equipment: $3.5 million
Assets:
Asset renewal budget by category:
- Sealed Road reseal program: $1.6 million
- Hard court renewal: $600,000
- Building renewal: $800,000
- Playground equipment renewal: $300,000
- Footpath renewal: $255,000
- Drainage renewal: $150,000
- Other shire wide renewal (e.g. active play, bike parks, bridges, skate parks and signage): $530,000
By the end of the 2025-26 financial year, Council will be responsible for the upkeep of $1.38 billion in property, infrastructure, plant and equipment.
Our annual asset renewal costs are expected to double over the next 10 years, from just over $10 million now to more than $21 million by 2034-35.
Other funding allocations of note:
- Contribution to Geelong Regional Library Corporation (Council Service): $850,500
- Christmas decorations and activations: $87,000
- ‘Branching Out’ urban tree planting program: $160,000
- Contribution to Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism: $152,813
- Small Grants Program: $148,600
- Event Support: $85,500
- Tourism - Rip Curl Pro: $70,000
- Life Saving Victoria contribution towards professional lifeguard service: $64,600
- Support to Community Houses: $31,700
- Tourism - sponsored events: $25,000
- Surf Coast Arts Trail: $24,740
- Tourism - signature events: $18,000
- Arts Grant Program: $16,000
- ANZAC Day support: $15,000
- Winchelsea Place Plan: $80,000
- Winchelsea Pool: $119,155 (operating costs for a season spanning 1 December 2025 to 9 March 2026)
Total average rate rise:
Rates are Council’s largest revenue source. The proposed total average rate rise of 3 per cent, which is in line with Victorian Government cap, will help us cover the rising cost of delivering our services and projects.
Waste Service Charge:
The proposed charges for 2025-26 are:
- Urban waste service charge: $515
- Rural waste service charge: $489
The waste service charge covers the rising costs of kerbside collections, waste disposal and recyclable material processing, public litter management, and the operation of Council’s resource recovery centres and the Anglesea landfill.
The figure has been impacted for 2025-26 by a 28 per cent increase in the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria waste levy. This money is collected by the Victorian Government.
Council is progressively aligning the Urban and Rural waste services charges over the next three years, which is why the Rural charge is proposed to increase more than the Urban charge.
Hardship:
Council’s Hardship Policy is in place to support ratepayers experiencing financial pressures.
Those experiencing hardship are encouraged to reach out for a confidential discussion by calling 03 5261 0600.
More information: surfcoast.vic.gov.au/paymenthelp.
Fees and charges:
Fees and charges have been reviewed with consideration of service costs, market competitors and local government benchmarking.
All fees and charges have been listed in the draft budget for the community’s review.
Fees and charges frozen at 2024-25 levels include:
- Australian National Surfing Museum entry fees
- Replacement kitchen caddy for FOGO material
- Statutory Planning advertising of applications and subsequent letters
Areas with highest increases, updated to reflect actual costs to Council and heavily impacted by an increase in the EPA Victoria waste levy, include:
- Upgrades to larger or additional kerbside bins
- Disposal of waste materials including truck and 4WD tyres, mattresses, commercial garbage and construction/demolition waste
Proposed new fees and charges include:
- Electric vehicle charging and idle fee, Civic Centre EV chargers in Torquay: $0.20/kWh charging fee, $1 per minute idle fee. (Previously no fee for these chargers.)
- Place of Public Entertainment – Commercial Event permits: fees varying based on number of attendees.
Borrowings:
Debt levels remain manageable and well within our Borrowings Policy.
We are budgeting for no new borrowings in 2025-26 and will pay down around $2.2 million of debt, reducing total borrowings from $10.4 million to $8.2 million by the end of the 2025-26 financial year.
Financial sustainability and efficiency:
Council’s business reform programs have identified $320,000 in operational savings, which have been incorporated into this budget and will assist the Council’s ongoing financial sustainability.
Draft Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-29:
The Revenue and Rating Plan determines the most appropriate, equitable and affordable revenue and rating approaches for Surf Coast Shire Council to apply.
The Draft 2025-2029 Revenue and Rating Plan proposes to continue using the Capital Improved Valuation methodology and a Differential rating strategy.
It is proposed to continue using three types of rates, with a different ‘level of rate’ for each rating type:
- General rate land (level of rate: 100 per cent)
- Farm rate land (75 per cent); and
- Commercial/industrial rate land (190 per cent)
This is in addition to a municipal charge and relevant service charge applied to all properties.
The Draft Revenue and Rating Plan is available for community feedback alongside the Draft Budget.
How to make a submission:
Online: yoursay.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/budget25-26
Write to:
Chief Executive Officer
Surf Coast Shire Council
PO Box 350
Torquay Vic 3228
Submissions must be received by 10am on Monday 26 May 2025.
Anyone making a submission can request to present to Council at a hearing of submissions, which will take place online at 6pm on Tuesday 3 June 2025.
Those who would prefer to view a printed copy of the draft budget can find one at:
- Anglesea Community House: 5 McMillan Street
- Council office in Torquay: 1 Merrijig Drive
- Lorne Visitor Information Centre: 15 Mountjoy Parade
- Winchelsea Shire Hall: 28 Hesse Street
Community members can also call 5261 0600 to arrange a relevant section posted.
Key dates
- 30 April 2025: Draft 2025-26 Budget and Draft 2025-29 Revenue and Rating plan open for community feedback.
- 26 May 2025: Submissions close at 10am
- 3 June 2025: Online hearing of submissions at 6pm (if required)
- 24 June 2025: Council to consider adopting finalised 2025-26 Budget and 2025-29 Revenue and Rating Plan