Ararat Rural City Council has released its 2025/2026 Draft Budget, continuing the financially responsible approach that it has implemented over the past seven budget cycles.
The Draft Budget highlights Council's commitment to strong financial management, high-quality services, and on-time completion of projects through focusing on service delivery and capital works programs, and in-house service provision.
The headlines of the 2025/2026 Draft Budget continue to revolve around returning an efficiency dividend to the community through a minimal rate rise and an ongoing dedication to renewing the community's assets through a $12,437,000 investment in capital works.
Highlights and new initiatives for 2025/2026:
- $1,490,000 secured in grant funding for a new covered sports arena for the Ararat Pony Club
- $683,000 contribution towards the Woorndoo-Streatham Road reconstruction project
- $500,000 contribution to an ongoing partnership commitment to Ararat Housing Enterprise P/L.
- $148,760 Pomonal Community Hall Battery Project, supported by the 100 Neighbourhood Batteries grants program
- $133,000 Council contribution towards a $399,000 upgrade of the Ararat Active Transport Bicycle Network
- $100,000 for young people's programs across schools, largely through the Crazy Ideas College
- $100,000 for Community Support Grants
- $100,000 for the successful business Façade Improvement and Kick Start Grants Programs
- $100,000 towards planning for a new indoor sports facility and an upgrade to Ararat outdoor pool
- $100,000 of grant funding secured for a new dog park in Ararat
- $60,000 secured for repair works to the former Cobb & Co Staging Stables in Buangor
- $1,000,000 to reconstruct a section of Buangor - Ben Nevis Road, on top of the $2,143,000 previous reconstruction works on this road
- $1,800,000 renewing rural gravel roads through resheeting or sealing treatments such as OTTA Seal
- $750,000 to fund Year 4 of Council's five-year commitment to improve urban drainage systems
- $400,000 to upgrade footpath network
- $312,232 secured in grant funding for pedestrian safety upgrades in the Ararat CBD
- $300,000 to renew kerb and channel assets
- Continuing to fund free access to Outdoor Pools
- Continuing the delivery of the $6.25 million Mount William Road reconstruction major infrastructure initiative
The full Draft Budget is available on the Engage Ararat website: www.engage.ararat.vic.au.
Residents can also make submissions by writing to Ararat Rural City Council - PO Box 246, Ararat, VIC, 3377 - or by emailing . Submissions are open until Tuesday 9 May 2025 at 5pm.
Council encourages residents to attend one of the upcoming Draft Budget Community Engagement Sessions to learn more about the Draft Budget and understand how it impacts your district. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions and get answers directly from your Councillors, and share your priorities for our community.
Can't make it to a session? We're also hosting individual drop-in sessions on Friday 2 May 2025 at the Ararat Rural City Council offices, 59 Vincent St, Ararat between 9am and 2pm.
Draft Budget Community Engagement Sessions will be held at the following venues:
Ararat
Ararat Town Hall: Corner of Vincent St and Barkly St, Ararat
Tuesday 29 April 2025, 11am
Buangor
Buangor Community Sports Centre Pavilion: 196 Coach Rd, Buangor
Wednesday 30 April 2025, 2pm
Elmhurst
Mechanics Institute: High Street, Elmhurst
Tuesday 29 April 2025, 2pm
Lake Bolac
Lake Bolac Complex: Lake Bolac Complex Road, Lake Bolac (next to the swimming pool, entrance from Montgomery St)
Thursday 1 May 2025, 7pm
Moyston
Moyston Community Hall: 12 Brooke St, Moyston
Thursday 1 May 2025, 11.30am
Pomonal
Pomonal Community Hall: 3360 Ararat-Halls Gap Rd, Pomonal
Thursday 1 May 2025, 3pm
Tatyoon
Tatyoon Hall: 2728 Tatyoon Rd, Tatyoon
Wednesday 30 April 2025, 7pm
Willaura
Willaura Memorial Hall: 93 Main St, Willaura
Thursday 1 May 2025, 5.30pm
"Council's 2025/26 Draft Budget represents our continued commitment to responsible financial management, allowing us to continue to deliver essential services and invest in crucial infrastructure while minimising the impact on ratepayers," says Ararat Rural City Council CEO, Dr Tim Harrison.
"We value the community's input and invite residents to read through that 2025/26 Draft Budget and share their thoughts."
