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Draft Budget (2020/21) and Strategic Resource Plan 2021-2024

Consultation has concluded

Budget document cover
We recently released our Draft Budget and Draft Strategic Resource Plan (DSRP) for formal submissions under Section 223 of the Local Government Act.

The community greatly assisted in setting the Draft Budget 2020/21 through the Your Budget Mix initiative last year with more than 200 responses received online and through community engagement.

The DSRP guides Council’s commitment to long term financial sustainability, delivering key services for current and future communities, accountability and working within the annual rate cap.

It is still important to get involved. Things have been moving quickly with C0VID-19 (Coronavirus) and this is likely to impact our draft budget.

We'll need to better understand the longer-term impact of C0VID-19 on our community and on our operations.

The Federal and State Governments have advised they will delay their budgets. This may impact on our revenue.

By law, our budget for 2020/21 must be adopted by 30 June. At this time, this has not changed for local government. We are therefore continuing to call for formal submissions to our draft budget.

If major changes are required, we will consider that as part of the next stage of our budget adoption process.

It is still important for people to get involved. We want to hear from you. We're not holding face-to-face sessions this year, but we do have other ways you can take part.

You can provide input through a formal process known as a Section 223 submission.

  • Step 1: Read the draft documents and associated information
  • Step 2: Decide whether you'd like to provide feedback as a Section 223 submission
  • Step 3: Complete our online or hard copy feedback or submission form
Submissions need to be received by 5pm on Wednesday 22 April

Formal submissions will be considered at a Special Budget Submissions Meeting on Monday 4 May. The Budget may then be considered for adoption on Monday 22 June.


We look forward to your input.

We recently released our Draft Budget and Draft Strategic Resource Plan (DSRP) for formal submissions under Section 223 of the Local Government Act.

The community greatly assisted in setting the Draft Budget 2020/21 through the Your Budget Mix initiative last year with more than 200 responses received online and through community engagement.

The DSRP guides Council’s commitment to long term financial sustainability, delivering key services for current and future communities, accountability and working within the annual rate cap.

It is still important to get involved. Things have been moving quickly with C0VID-19 (Coronavirus) and this is likely to impact our draft budget.

We'll need to better understand the longer-term impact of C0VID-19 on our community and on our operations.

The Federal and State Governments have advised they will delay their budgets. This may impact on our revenue.

By law, our budget for 2020/21 must be adopted by 30 June. At this time, this has not changed for local government. We are therefore continuing to call for formal submissions to our draft budget.

If major changes are required, we will consider that as part of the next stage of our budget adoption process.

It is still important for people to get involved. We want to hear from you. We're not holding face-to-face sessions this year, but we do have other ways you can take part.

You can provide input through a formal process known as a Section 223 submission.

  • Step 1: Read the draft documents and associated information
  • Step 2: Decide whether you'd like to provide feedback as a Section 223 submission
  • Step 3: Complete our online or hard copy feedback or submission form
Submissions need to be received by 5pm on Wednesday 22 April

Formal submissions will be considered at a Special Budget Submissions Meeting on Monday 4 May. The Budget may then be considered for adoption on Monday 22 June.


We look forward to your input.

Consultation has concluded

  • Hardship options available through COVID-19

    Mitchell Shire Council is encouraging community members to access new hardship support options if they are unable to pay their fourth instalment rate notices due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

    The notices will be sent out shortly with instalments due by 31 May. Council is aware that the ability for some community members and businesses to pay rates has been significantly diminished due to COVID-19.

    People can apply for a payment extension to the end of June and further arrangements can be discussed on a case by case basis. Council is also waiving interest charges on overdue accounts until 30 June 2020 and can provide options for people who are already on payment plans.

    In addition to these immediate support measures, Council is advocating to the State and Federal governments to help support the community and the delivery of essential services provided by local government.

    In the light of the essential role that local Government plays in delivering a whole range of essential services Council is in discussions with Local Members of Parliament seeking some increased Government assistance.

    The critical services the Council deliver are vital for the health and safety of the whole community - particularly the aged and vulnerable as well as the health of our business community.

    Mitchell ratepayers are also encouraged to sign up for online rates notices. Making the switch is easy and can be done online with the rates notice reference number.

    Please call 5734 6200 during business hours to request a copy of a rate notice, to register for electronic delivery, to activate hardship arrangements or to update a payment plan.

    Also, under discussion is Council’s 2020/21 Budget. As part of Council’s budget preparation process, which was well underway prior to COVID-19, a draft budget has been released for community input.

    Council is seeking advice from the State Government about this legal requirement, as the budget will change significantly because of the COVID-19 impacts. Ratepayers and other community members are still encouraged to provide input to the draft budget at Engaging Mitchell. Hard copy submissions can also be made. Submissions close on Wednesday 22 April. For details on how, please call 5734 6200.

    Quotes attributable to Mitchell Shire Mayor Councillor David Lowe

    “We understand the situation is causing financial stress. We want everyone to know there are options for them and that we will provide hardship support to anyone who needs it,” he said.

    “Looking ahead beyond the fourth instalment notice, we are advocating to the State and Federal Governments to provide extra support to help councils continue to deliver essential services for communities and businesses, to continue to provide local jobs and to support the ongoing recovery effort.”


  • Draft documents released

    The $97.76 million Draft Budget is focused on continuing to plan for the futureand avoid growing pains as the Shire’s population is rapidly growing towards 53,000 people.

    As part of the budget process, Council reviews the fees and charge schedule in line with industry and local government benchmarking. Costs which have risen are a direct reflection on the costs to Council to run that service.

    On average, our fees and charges have increased by 2.5 per cent. Council has made this decision in order to cover the costs to our community.

    The waste charges have risen by 8.6 per cent in order to cover the costs of operation. This is necessary to ensure we can continue to provide a high-quality waste and recycling service. The cost of waste and recycling service delivery is charged to community members through an annual waste charge. This cost reflects the total cost in operating Council’s waste and recycling services.

    Rates have also risen by 2 per cent in line with the State Government’s mandated rate cap.

    This budgetaims to balance, maintain and expand services and infrastructure across the State’s fastest growing municipality.

    Council has also released the DSRP. This plan is reviewed annually and sets financial and non-financial targets.

    The DSRP guides Council’s commitment to long term financial sustainability, delivering key services for current and future communities, accountability and working within the annual rate cap.

    Mitchell Shire continues to face a number of key challenges as our community is made up of both rapidly growing rural and urban areas. Council understands that we need to plan appropriate services for these rapidly growing communities.

    Now more than ever, Mitchell Shire needs increased State and Federal Government funding invested into our community. We will continue to advocate on behalf of our community to attract more grants to support our growth and the impacts on ratepayers.

    You can provide your input atwww.engagingmitchellshire.com. Submissions close Wednesday 22 April.

    A special Budget Hearings Meeting will be held on 4 May to discuss formal submissions.

    Quotes attributable to Mitchell Shire Mayor Councillor David Lowe

    “This budget is the final budget and Strategic Resource Plan of this Council’s four-year term and it certainly reflects both the challenges and opportunities of Victoria’s fastest growing shire,” he said.

    “Over the past four years we have had tremendous population growth and a strong focus on improving facilities, services and infrastructure, and roads. This budget is committed to the ongoing delivery of services and investment in our community.

    “With our growth we continue to rely heavily on grant opportunities to support our needs as well as advocacy to attract more services, infrastructure and investment into our community.”

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  • Council’s draft budget highlights

    Mitchell Shire Councilwill increase its sealed roads program, continue to improve road and footpath linkages andkeep the doors open to Outdoor Pools for free, under its proposed 2020/21 Budget.

    The budget aims to ensure Council can manage both the growing pains of being the fastest growing municipality in Victoria and opportunities that come with rapid growth.

    The community greatly assisted in setting the Draft Budget 2020/21 through the Your Budget Mix initiative last year with more than 200 responses received online and through community engagement.

    Council is proposing a capital works program of $24.28 million, plus $7.83M in carry forward works, which provides a total program of $32.11M.

    This budget continues to allow Mitchell Shire to:

    • operate efficiently and effectively

    • provide services, facilities, and infrastructure to meet the current and future needs of our rural, urban, and new communities

    • intensively plan and deliver for the future

    • engage with our community to help define core services and develop service levels which will define our asset needs

    • drive change in partnership with the community by nurturing an engaged, motivated and efficient workforce

    • successfully advocate to other levels of government on the needs of the community

    • collaborate with other municipalities to secure better contracts

    • work in partnership with all sectors, including business, not for profit, and government, to maximise and support shared resource benefits and investment in the municipality.

    Highlights of the capital works program for 2020/21 funded by Council in partnership with State and Commonwealth grants include:

    • Roads and Bridges (Renewal and Upgrade) – $5.28 million ($1.18 million grant funded)

    • Park, Open Space and Streetscapes - $4.81 million ($4.21 million grant funded)

    • Recreation, Leisure and Community Facilities - $2.92 million ($1.07 million grant funded)

    • Buildings - $2.11 million ($1.40 million grant funded)

    • Strategic Land Acquisition - $2.10 million

    • Waste Management - $1 million

    • Information Technology - $981,000

    • Footpath and Cycleways - $895,000

    • Library Book Renewals - $180,000

    The sealed roads budget will increase to $4.5 million, up from $3.8 million in the Budget 2019/20, to continue works across the entire municipality.

    The capital works program will help Council maintain or upgrade roads, buildings, footpaths, cycleways and missing footpath links across the shire.

    The Draft Budget 2020/21 also considers the rapidly growing future of Mitchell Shire. About $4.88 million has been set aside for new projects to be delivered during 2020-2021.

    Free entry to outdoor pools will continue over the next summer season. The 2019-2020 season saw bumper crowds at outdoor pools – despite some cooler days.

    Council is set to continue to focus on township beautification, improving garden beds and reviewing the Mitchell Open Space Strategy.

    Council will consider any measures for Coronavirus response or potential impacts on operations.This will be considered before the budget is adopted and can be reviewed at a later date in accordance with state legislation around budget changes.

    The Draft Budget is open for public comment until Wednesday 22 April.

    For more information or to provide input, please visit www.engagingmitchellshire.com.

    Quotes attributable to Mitchell Shire Mayor Councillor David Lowe

    "We heard from our community during the Your Budget Mix consultation period about what they would like to see in the Budget 2020/21. This was an important tool for us as it gave us an indication on what projects the community would like prioritised,” he said.

    “We are more financially stable now and that has been a focus of this Council. This budget is another step in right direction.

    “I urge our community to read over these documents for themselves and understand what we are trying to achieve in 2020/21. This is the last budget for this Council, and I am incredibly proud of the improvements we have made in this space.”

    ##ENDS##