Final Week to Submit Your Feedback On Council’s Draft Budget 2025/2026

Community feedback on Council’s Draft Budget 2025/2026 closes this week on Friday 9 May 2025 at 5:00pm.

The Budget is the blueprint that shapes our priorities and outlines our financial commitments to the delivery of important services, programs and infrastructure. Council encourages community members to have their say on this important document, as part of its ongoing commitment to community consultation.

Community engagement sessions commenced across the municipality this week, with a final session to be held at Tatyoon Hall next Monday 5 May 2025. Residents can also provide their feedback at the individual drop-in sessions to be held on Friday 2 May 2025, between 9am and 2pm at Ararat Rural City Council offices, 59 Vincent St, Ararat.

Community members are also encouraged to have their say on the Draft Budget via Engage Ararat, or email to: [email protected], or mail to PO Box 246, Ararat.

You can view the Draft Budget, and a snapshot of its key highlights, via Engage Ararat, or pick-up a hard copy of the budget snapshot from Council's municipal offices.

The initiatives in Ararat Rural City’s proposed Budget 2025/2026 will deliver significant benefits to communities across the municipality, including:

$1.49M for the Ararat Pony Club
Supported by the Australian Government’s Play Our Way Grants Program, this significant upgrade will deliver a state-of-the-art, covered equine arena complete with lighting to provide an all-weather riding space to stimulate increased participation in sports and offer greater opportunities for physical activity all year round.

$399K on the Bicycle Network Upgrade
Driven by Council’s Ararat on the Move strategy, a $399K upgrade – including a $133K Council contribution – will significantly expand the Ararat Active Transport Bicycle Network, improving connectivity to key CBD locations like the train station, Barkly Street, schools, workplaces, community groups, and recreational facilities.

$1M for Buangor-Ben Nevis Road
This essential link between the Pyrenees and Western Highways, which services freight, residents, and tourists, will receive a further $1M reconstruction in addition to the previously pledged $2.143M. The major route will undergo renewal works to reduce heavy vehicle traffic through Ararat, alleviating the impact on local roads and improving transport efficiency.

$148K for the Pomonal Hall Power Upgrade
Supported by the State Government’s 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Grants Program, Pomonal’s Community Hall will receive a battery storage and solar PV integration upgrade that will future-proof the Hall as an energy resilient hub for residents of Pomonal and surrounding areas to access in the event of an extended grid outage.

$60K for Buangor Cobb & Co Repairs
This funding has been secured to carry out essential repair works to this state heritage-listed site. It will support the replacement of damaged guttering, downpipes, and roofing to prevent future water damage from extreme weather, prioritising the site’s cultural heritage, improving flood risk management, and supporting community resilience and heritage appreciation.

$683K for Woorndoo-Streatham Road
These funds have been allocated to the upgrade of Woorndoo-Streatham Road, delivered in partnership with Moyne Shire Council, and supported by the Federal Government’s Roads to Recovery Grants Program. This key section of rural road plays a central role in facilitating heavy vehicle transport and supporting our region’s agricultural sector.

“Decisions made in the Budget impact every one of us,” says Ararat Rural City Council Mayor, Cr Jo Armstrong. “This is your chance to directly influence Council’s priorities, and its decisions on how public funds are spent. Take an active role in your community's development and have your say!”