Council is pleased to present the 2024/25 budget to the Swan Hill Rural City community.

Our current budget follows a busy year of projects including the completion of the Robinvale Leisure Centre and Splash Park, the Robinvale Skate Park, the Swan Hill River Viewing Platform and Boardwalk, street lighting upgrades, ongoing sealed road renewal works and footpath replacements and much more.

It also follows disruptions caused by the high river and flooding events in 2023 that created additional response and maintenance, right across the municipality.

This year’s budget is committed to maintaining services through efficiency and strong financial management, while also providing a positive capital works program that we are proud of.

Our 2024/25 budget plans for a rate rise of 2.75%, which is significantly less the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and other costing indexes, and we will continue our focus of striving for efficient, high-quality services and facilities for our community, as well as delivering a superior capital works program.

This budget plans for a number of projects set to be delivered across our municipality, in partnership with the State and Federal government.

Our 2024/25 budget contains a $35.18M allocation for a number of exciting projects, right across our municipality, including:

• Pental Island – Pioneer Settlement Pedestrian Bridge upgrade
• Art Gallery redevelopment
• Cultural and Tourism Hub development
• Compost Facility Establishment stage 2
• Empower Youth Initiative
• Nyah Cricket Practice and Community Event Space
• Robinvale Drainage works stage 2
• Tower Hill stage 16
• Swan Hill Showgrounds Regional Hub
• Sealed Roads renewal works
• Unsealed Roads renewal works
• Karinie Street reconstruction
• Renewal works to community buildings
• Continued funding for Swan Hill Riverfront Masterplan projects
• and much more.

We encourage residents to read our draft budget thoroughly and are seeking feedback from the community, regarding the draft budget.

All comments should be received by 4pm Friday 17 May 2024.

Please share your feedback on the draft budget or write to:

Chief Executive Officer

Swan Hill Rural City Council

PO Box 488, Swan Hill VIC 3585.

A special Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 28 May to hear and consider submissions.

If no submissions are received, Council will consider whether to amend or adopt the budget at this meeting.

If submissions are received, Council will consider whether to amend or adopt the budget at a Special Council Meeting on Tuesday, 4 June.

The meeting to adopt the budget will be the Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday, 11 June.

We look forward to continuing to deliver vital services for our communities, working alongside them, during the next 12 months.