At its June council meeting, Gannawarra councillors pushed through the 2026-27 budget, which forecasts an $8.53 million surplus, with a total revenue of $43.55 million and expenditure of $35.026 million.
The budget document, which lays out how the council will spend the $43.55 million raised through rates, charges and grants over the next financial year, outlines the council’s goal of looking after its existing assets and services.
Following completion of capital works projects and repair works resulting from the 2022 floods, Mayor Garner Smith said the budget expressed that the council was back to “business as usual”.
He said this budget reflected the council's commitment to laying a solid foundation and preparing for transformative projects expected to feature in budgets over the coming decade.
General rates will increase by the maximum Victorian Government cap of 2.75 per cent.
The flat Municipal Charge will also rise by 10 per cent — up from $100 to $110 per property each year.
The capital works program will cost $16.439 million, with $4.518 million in new asset expenditure, $3 million in asset upgrades and $8.921 million in asset renewal works.
Highlights of the program include $3 million for stage two of the Cohuna Waterfront Development, rehabilitation of the Murphy St section of the Kerang township levee, and the first stage of the Koondrook levee project.
Council sought feedback about the draft budget from the community over a four-week period, with 12 submissions received and two received earlier in the budget process.
Seven of the submissions related to drainage concerns at Tennyson St, Quambatook.
Submitters noted it had been a long-standing issue for residents with frequent road flooding and pooling, impacts on private properties and a lack of stormwater infrastructure.
Although the drainage allocation is modest at $300,000 for the coming financial year, council has flagged a significant $4.3 million drainage uplift in the 2029-30 budget.
Other submissions related to waste services and illegal dumping, road sealing in Kerang, and funding for Koondrook Recreation Reserve.
While no changes were made to this year's budget off the back of these submissions, council confirmed they would inform future capital works programs and service delivery planning.
Cr Smith thanked community members for their involvement in putting together the budget, singling out those who submitted feedback.
“Council thanks residents who took the time to provide input into the 2026-27 budget and looks forward to working with the community to implement the important projects and services outlined in the document,” he said.
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