Cardinia Shire has released a draft budget which "signifies the beginning of a new era" and meets community needs whilst working within limited revenue, according to mayor Jack Kowarzik.
Proposing a three per cent rate increase, residents can now have their say on the draft 2025/26 budget.
Allocating $71.6 million for capital works in the next financial year, local projects to feature include BMX facilities in Bunyip, playground renewal in Garfield, upgrades to Nar Nar Goon Recreation Reserve and public toilet renewal works at Bunyip, Tynong and Garfield.
"This year's draft budget focuses on renewing our existing assets through our capital program to ensure that they continue to support the needs of our growing community," Cr Kowarzik said. "It's important that we invest our resources carefully to ensure our assets are renewed and maintained and can continue to be enjoyed by our community."
Speaking at last week's council meeting, Cr Collin Ross described the draft budget, the first of the new council term, as "extremely responsible" and "constrained."
Cr Ross said "this budget is one that's been talked over more than any other budget I've had on council".
Cr Casey Thomson added it was not a cash splash but believed council would be left in a strong financial position after "treading water" in the next six to 12 months.
However, Cr Trudi Paton said she couldn't support a three per cent rate rise on ratepayers. "The budget still pays lip service to the rising cost of living and the growing cost of government," she said.
With the budget indicating three families moved to Cardinia Shire every day, Cr Paton said infrastructure for the growing community needed to be funded by the state government and developer levies, "not ratepayers already doing it tough".
Cr Paton also voted against a 2025-2029 draft revenue and rating plan, stating people on rural properties were being forced to pay for services they didn't want or need.
"Rates are too high and the system isn't fair," she added.
However, Cr Kowarzik believed the changes to the draft document created a simplified, more understood and more equal plan to increase burden on land bankers.
It will see a cut to the differential rate for vacant urban land, falling from 229 per cent to 200 per cent.
Cr Kowarzik indicated a thorough community consultation period for future budgets would follow as "we need to help farmers, no doubt".
During the meeting, Cr Thomsen highlighted a 15.9 per cent unpaid rates percentage in Cardinia in 2024, higher than the 10.4 per cent state average.
"It just shows that financial hardship and locals doing it tough is very, very real within our shire," he said.
Key initiatives in the $71.6 million capital works program include: $8.9 million for building maintenance, $42.36 million for roads and drainage, $1.05 million for bridges, $1.3 million for footpaths and cycleways, $2.7 million for recreation, leisure and community facilities, and $1.45 million for parks and open space.
Additionally, council has allocated funds to deliver more than 120 services, including $6.3 million for early years development and education, $2.05 million for community safety and inclusion, $706,000 for youth services, $2.5 million for libraries and $6.4 million for compliance services and emergency management.
Local projects currently included in the draft 2025/26 budget include: $701,000 carry over to construct Garfield North Cannibal Creek community hub; $287,000 for the BMX facility at Bunyip Sanctuary; playground renewal at Greenland Crt in Garfield (one of six projects totalling $677,000); $250,000 for Nar Nar Goon oval lighting; energy-efficient street lighting for Hope St in Bunyip; public toilet renewal works at High St in Bunyip, Tynong (opposite View St) and Ritchie St in Garfield (three of six projects totalling $478,000) and $221,000 to design a pavilion at Nar Nar Goon Recreation Reserve.
Unsealed roads on the resheeting program include: Glover Rd and McColls Rd in Modella, North Yannathan Rd, Lyons Rd and Pooles Rd.