The Mayor’s Column – May 2026

THE 2026/27 Budget is here after being adopted at our May Council meeting.

Like many Victorian Councils, Golden Plains Shire faces the difficult reality of maintaining essential services while ensuring long–term financial sustainability.

This year’s budget commits $61.4 million to delivering more than 70 vital services across our community.

We have also allocated $14.6 million to improving and renewing local infrastructure, including roads, buildings, recreation spaces and community facilities.

We’ve got $900k for local roads resealing, $670k for local road improvements, a $2.54m Roads to Recovery Federal Government Grant for local road projects, and $700k for gravel resheeting.

There’s a $600k allocation for our drainage program, $300k for footpaths and cycleways, and $350k for local bridge renewals.

We’ve also invested $2.4m for the Russells Bridge replacement and $1.75m for the Teesdale Female Friendly Changerooms Project.

These investments remain central to supporting liveability and growth across the Shire.

The budget forecasts an operating surplus of $1.9 million, but after adjusting for non–cash items and capital contributions, we face an underlying deficit of $6.7 million.

This reflects the broader challenge facing rural and peri–urban Councils – the cost of delivering services is rising faster than the revenue available to fund them.

We also continue to benefit from renewable energy investment, with $2.3 million in income from Mount Mercer, Berrybank and Golden Plains Wind Farms.

Despite the pressures, this Budget remains focused on protecting essential services and investing in the infrastructure our community values most.

Thank you to everyone who provided their input into the development of the 2026/27 Budget.

It’s an exciting time for our local sporting clubs, with several funding announcements and openings recently taking place across the Shire.

First up, we had $200k announced from the State Government for the Haddon pump track by Member for Ripon, Martha Haylett MP.

We welcome this funding and look forward to working closely with the State Government and community to help progress this fantastic project.

The Inverleigh Recreation Reserve oval 2 lighting upgrade project also received funding, with $320k from the State Government being announced my Member for Eureka, Michaela Settle MP.

This will make a world of difference for user groups training on the second oval at night.

Last week, I also attended the opening of the Woady Yaloak Netball and Tennis Courts opening along with Member for Ripon, Martha Haylett MP. A fantastic evening for all involved.

Our local sporting clubs are the life of our community, and they deserve facilities that match their commitment.

Council is also continuing to advocate our 2026 State Election priority projects.

It was disappointing to see that this year’s State Budget includes no new transport funding for Golden Plains Shire.

This was off the back of a very successful Bus Network Review led by the Department of Transport and Planning, which covered Bannockburn as the only township in the Shire.

Of the 3,787 survey responses received, GPS residents accounted for 10 per cent, demonstrating significant local interest in improving public transport.

This interest was particularly strong in Inverleigh and Teesdale, with 31.7 per cent of all GPS survey respondents – 123 people in total – coming from these two communities and calling for better public transport connections.

Our community has been loud and clear, we need more frequent, reliable services between Bannockburn, Inverleigh and Teesdale and Geelong.

Four weekday services from Bannockburn, including one that takes more than three and a half hours via Ballarat, simply doesn’t meet the needs of a growing region.

We will continue to advocate for the services our residents deserve.

Yours in community,

Owen Sharkey

Mayor

Golden Plains Shire