General News
10 July, 2026
Council adopts new budget
Pyrenees Shire Council’s road and bridge improvements will be a major focus of its 2026/27 Budget, adopted at a Special Council Meeting last week.
Pyrenees Shire Council’s road and bridge improvements will be a major focus of its 2026/27 Budget, adopted at a Special Council Meeting last week.
The budget also includes:
• A 2.75 percent rate increase in line with the Victorian Government’s rate cap
• Operating expenditure of $28 million
• Capital expenditure of $7 million
Mayor Damian Ferrari said the budget strikes a careful balance between maintaining essential infrastructure and responding to community needs.
“This budget reflects council’s strong commitment to improving our road network and critical infra-structure, while continuing to invest in the facilities and services our community relies on every day,” he said.
“We know roads and bridges are a top priority for our residents, and this budget delivers targeted investment to improve safety, accessibility and connectivity across the shire.
“At the same time, we’ve made sure to support important com-munity projects, recreation facilities and initiatives that help our towns thrive.
“Importantly, this has been achieved while keeping rate increases in line with the Victorian Government cap. However, we will continue to advocate to other levels of government to improve council’s financial sustainability, as inflation is rising much faster than rate revenue.
“We will also need to review a range of our services over the coming year to determine how they can be managed more sustainably to maintain a future financially responsible position.”
Other items in the budget include $243,500 in important investments across the shire, including:
• Tanwood Avenue of Honour replacement
• Lexton flood mitigation works
• Avoca Recreation Reserve flood mitigation works (part only)
• Community Asset Committee support and delegated works
• Landsborough Bowling Club green replacement (council con-tribution and subject to external funding)
• Playground renewals
• New or relocated bus shelters (provision)
• Defibrillator maintenance and renewal
Council’s 10-Year Financial Plan was also adopted.