Last updated on 19 June 2026
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has adopted its 2026–27 Budget, setting out how it will deliver services, maintain infrastructure, and support the community over the next year.
The Budget funds everyday services like waste collection, road maintenance, parks, community facilities and customer facing services, as well as a $16.2 million capital works program.
Mayor Cr Kate Kendall said the Budget focuses on doing the basics well while responding to community needs. “This year’s budget is about being pragmatic and responsive to submissions. We’ve focused on making sure we can keep delivering the services people rely on every day, while still investing in a variety of key projects across the shire.”
Council has included a number of measures to help ease cost-of-living pressures. These include more free green waste drop-off weeks (increasing from two to six each year), a cheaper annual pass for Hanging Rock Reserve, a 12-month freeze on some business-related fees, and extra funding for local food banks and Neighbourhood Houses. “We know people are feeling the pressure, so we’ve tried to include practical support where we can,” Cr Kendall said. The Budget also includes investment in important local projects, such as improvements to Malmsbury Botanic Gardens, safety upgrades at the Kyneton Showgrounds grandstand, works to the Woodend Memorial Clock Tower, and ongoing upgrades to roads, drainage and community infrastructure across the shire.
The Budget includes significant investment in digital systems and technology that will improve customer service, streamline Council operations and make it easier for the community to access Council services. “We get a lot of requests to digitise Council’s forms, and this initiative will help get us there,” Cr Kendall said.
Looking ahead, the Budget supports longer-term priorities for the shire, including planning for population growth, improving town centres through the Thriving Villages program, and delivering initiatives that support young people, mental health, accessibility and the environment.
To fund services, Council will apply a 2.75% rate increase, which is in line with the rate cap set by the Victorian Government.
Cr Kendall said Council had worked to balance affordability with the need to maintain services. “We’ve worked hard to strike a balance between keeping costs manageable for the community and making sure we can continue delivering required services, maintaining our asset base, and investing in infrastructure,” she said.
The Budget was shaped through two phases of community engagement, with community groups, organisations and residents providing feedback on priorities that matter to them. Council received 174 submissions across both stages of consultation, reflecting the community’s strong interest in the future of the Macedon Ranges, with many submissions expressing strong support for the proposed Budget and and helping inform and shape the final adopted 2026-27 Budget.
The full 2026–27 Budget is available to read on Council’s website at yoursay.mrsc.vic.gov.au/ideas-action-2026-27-budget