Council is pleased to present the 2025/26 budget to the Swan Hill Rural City community.

Our current budget follows a busy year of projects, including the completion of major community and infrastructure upgrades such as road reconstructions, foot path replacements, drainage works, and recreation facility upgrades.

In addition to these capital works, Council continues to deliver over 70 essential services to the community. These include libraries, maternal and child health, youth services, waste management, public health initiatives, and environmental sustainability programs and more.

We also play a vital role in advocating on behalf of our community—working with state and federal governments to influence outcomes on issues that matter most to our community.

Council has been focused on delivering tangible outcomes for our residents.

Recent and ongoing key projects include the commencement of the Swan Hill Art Gallery and Tourism Hub, the construction of new change rooms at Nyah Recreation Reserve, upgrades to the Robinvale playground, and beautification works at the southern entrance to Lake Boga - each helping to strengthen the liveability and appeal of our region.

In addition, Council continues to support the establishment of a Rugby Club in Swan Hill, advancing the Swan Hill Recreation Reserve Masterplan, and driving housing initiatives with a bold target of 500 new homes over five years.

We remain committed to delivering increased investment in road renewal works, ensuring safer, more reliable and better-connected communities, throughout our region.

Looking ahead, the 2025/26 budget is focused on maintaining essential services, delivering key infrastructure projects, and supporting community growth through responsible financial management. Our capital works program will continue to invest in roads, public spaces, and community facilities, ensuring a vibrant and sustainable future for our municipality.

Our 2025/26 draft Budget has been developed in line with the Victorian Government’s rate cap of 3.0 per cent. As with previous years, Council has not applied for a variation to the rate cap as it seeks to absorb increasing costs for supplies, goods and services with improved efficiencies. We will continue our focus of striving for efficient, effective 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. Diligent strategic project planning mean that projects are “shovel ready” for grant allocations from higher levels of government. Our success in acquiring grant funding has exceeded our expectations.

Our 2025/26 budget contains a $42.07M allocation for a number of exciting projects, right across our municipality, including:

• Robinvale Key Workers Accommodation
• McCartney Court Karinie Street Reconstruction
• Target 500 actions, addressing housing shortages in the region
• Art Gallery Redevelopment completion Tourism & Cultural Hub completion
• Pental Island Footbridge Upgrade (Pioneer Settlement)
• Robinvale Drainage Stage 2 including Pump Station upgrade
• Swan Hill Landfill Cell Capping & Rehabilitation Works
• Swan Hill Riverside Park Mooring Platform
• Swan Hill CBD – Urban Design Master plan
• Missing Links Footpath – Manangatang CBD to School
• Nyah Riverfront Masterplan Implementation

And that’s just the beginning! This year’s draft budget also includes upgrades to roads, footpaths, community facilities, environmental initiatives, and much more to enhance our municipality for everyone.

Alongside this draft Budget, Council is also developing new plans for the next 4 years,including the Revenue and Rating Plan, Long-term Financial Plan. Strategic Asset Management Plan, Customer Engagement Strategy and a new Council Plan due October 2025. The community will have the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the Revenue and Rating plan before the draft budget consultation period closes.

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 16 May 2025.

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.

Council will receive, hear and consider submissions at a Special Council Meeting on Tuesday, 3 June at 1pm.

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

The meeting to adopt the budget will be the Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday, 17 June at 2pm.