With almost 800 local people taking part in our consultation on this year’s Budget and 10 Year Financial Plan, we’re all set to deliver for our community in 2024/25 and beyond!

Councillors endorsed the key documents at their meeting last night (25 June).

With an operating budget of $155 million, we’ll provide more than 100 valuable services for our residents, businesses and visitors. We’ll maintain and enhance community assets with a $55 million capital works program, including:

• $12 million for roads and bridges
• $6 million for footpaths and cycleways
• $4 million for drainage
• $3.1 million for the Schramm's Cottage Museum Complex Visitor Centre
• $1.6 million for playspace renewals
• $1.2 million for Ruffey Lake Park Masterplan implementation
• $1.1 million for Rieschiecks Reserve Management Plan
• $1.0 million to commence works on a co-working hub
• $1.0 million for a battery for Mullum Mullum stadium
• $0.3 million for a youth hub

We’ll also continue to deliver on our Climate Emergency Action Plan to reduce the impacts of climate change. We’ve allocated $11 million in our capital works program over the next ten years for Circular Economy, sustainability initiatives.

With inflation continuing to be higher than average, we’re conscious of cost-of-living pressures in our community. Council will continue to support rate payers through:

• Freezing the waste service charge well below the 4.80 per cent increase in the cost of waste services to Council.
• Financial hardship provisions including rates rebates for Low Income (LI) Health Care Card holders.
• $2.25 million for community grants and contributions programs.
• Continued financial support to agencies that provide emergency relief to those in need in our community.
• Funding for the provision of food relief for those in need in the community.
• Subsidies for school holiday programs.
• An average general rate increase in line with the State Government’s rate cap of 2.75 per cent.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Carli Lange thanked everyone who contributed.

“We’re proud of the Budget and 10 Year Financial Plan and feel we’ve managed to balance delivering on our community’s needs while sustaining our commitment to being a financially responsible Council.

“We started working on the Budget back in November and had an incredible number of residents take part in our three different stages of consultation. Thank you all for your valuable insights.”

We're delivering on our Council Plan, including:

• $21 million for a healthy community
• $40 million for liveable places and spaces
• $19 million for a resilient environment
• $6 million for a vibrant prosperous economy
• $33 million for a well governed Council

Budget highlights

$3.1 million to build the Schramm's Cottage Museum Complex Visitor Centre in Doncaster East

We’ll build a new, multipurpose visitor centre in Rieschiecks Reserve as part of the Waldau Precinct Master Plan. The Visitor Centre will include spaces for exhibitions and meetings, as well as accessible public toilets. We’ll also upgrade the paths surrounding the centre and expect the project to be completed in early 2025.

$1.35 million to deliver the main phase of works for the Templestowe Route upgrade in Templestowe

The Templestowe Route is a 1.8km series of important local link roads between Templestowe Road and Williamson Road, including Parker, Swilk, James and Anderson streets. The upgrade will improve safety, pedestrian connectivity and the quality of infrastructure along the route.

$1.0 million to start work on a co-working hub at MC Square in Doncaster

The co-working business hub at MC Square will be far more than a professionally designed and operated space to conduct business. It will support a healthy economy and the business community, with a concierge and tailored calendar of events to create excitement and stimulate cooperation, as well as spaces for 30 to 40 users. We expect the co-working business hub to open in July 2025.

Read the Budget 2024/25

Read the 10 Year Financial Plan 2024/25 to 2033/34