Consultation open on borough budget priorities

THE Borough of Queenscliffe is seeking community input to help shape its 2026-27 budget.

The consultation will inform early planning for the next financial year, with council seeking feedback on where spending priorities should lie across its services, projects and programs.

The annual budget determines how council allocates funding across its services, programs and projects, influencing investment in areas such as infrastructure, public spaces, environmental management, arts, tourism and community services.

As part of the consultation, the council is inviting feedback from residents and ratepayers, as well as holidaymakers and people who work, visit or spend time in the borough.

Community members are being asked to consider how council funding should be distributed across seven broad service areas: capital works; assets, facilities and public spaces; environment and waste; statutory planning and local laws; arts and libraries; tourism and business support; and aged and family services.

An online tool allows participants to allocate a hypothetical $100 across these categories to reflect their priorities, followed by a short questionnaire to provide further detail.

The council’s most recent budget shows assets, facilities and public spaces accounted for the largest share of spending at 27 per cent, followed by capital works at 19 per cent and environment and waste at 16 per cent.

The draft 2026-27 budget will be released on exhibition in April, with the final document to be adopted in June.