2025/26 Budget and 2025-29 Council Plan adopted

Published on 24 June 2025

Pyrenees Shire Council has adopted its 2025/26 Budget, with a rate rise of three per cent in line with the Victorian Government’s rate cap.

Council has also adopted its Council Plan 2025-2029, a Community Vision 2031, a 10 Year Financial Plan and a Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-2029.

Pyrenees Shire Mayor Tanya Kehoe said the Budget had been prepared considering the latest economic factors and to ensure Council’s long-term financial sustainability.

“We have to balance the current difficult economic climate with the need to provide valuable services to our residents,” Cr Kehoe said.

“Our communities rely on Council to provide services such as waste removal, road and infrastructure repairs, libraries, parks and gardens, recreation facilities, planning permits, visitor information centres, child and maternal health, youth and ageing well programs and to assist with tourism and economic development in the region. Our Budget has to cater for these needs.

“However, at this time, our Budget is also focused on providing the best possible value for residents with the least economic impact.”

As part of the Budget, Council will borrow $1 million for strategic capital works, including its vital bridge restrengthening program.

A key initiative in the Budget is also the delivery of stage one of the Burke Street Key Worker Accommodation in Beaufort, which will provide much needed housing stock for workers.

Amendments to the Revenue and Rating Plan have also been made to improve the equity in rates payable throughout the municipality, particularly for vacant land.

Cr Kehoe said the Council Plan 2025-29 is the key strategic document that provides direction to Council on its service delivery.

“The Council Plan sets out our aims and goals for the next four years that we want to achieve as a Council.

“This will be carried out through specific initiatives that the organisation will oversee and with quarterly reports on progress coming back to Council so we can ensure our goals are being met.”