Council Seeks Community Feedback on Financial Plan 2025-2035 and Revenue & Rating Plan 2025-2029

Ararat Rural City Council is seeking the community’s feedback on two key strategy documents that outline the municipality’s financial management.

The Financial Plan provides a 10-year financially sustainable projection regarding how the actions of the Council Plan 2025-2029 may be funded to achieve the Community Vision 2035 and is developed in the context of several strategic planning principles.

Council’s Rating & Revenue Plan 2025-2029 determines the most appropriate and affordable revenue and rating approach for Council which in conjunction with other income sources will adequately finance the objectives in the Council Plan 2025-2029.   

This plan is an important part of Council’s integrated planning framework, all of which is created to help Council achieve the outcomes of the Community Vision 2035.

Feedback on the Draft Financial Plan 2025 – 2035 and Revenue & Rating Plan 2025-2029 can be submitted until 9 May 2025. You can submit your feedback by submitting comments via Engage Ararat: engage.ararat.vic.gov.au, via email [email protected], or mail to PO Box 246, Ararat. 

Residents will have the opportunity to ask questions about both documents at the upcoming Draft Budget Community Engagement Sessions. Dates and times for these sessions can be found at the bottom of this article.

A final draft of the Financial Plan 2025 – 2035 and Revenue & Rating Plan 2025-2029 will be presented at the 24 June 2025 Council Meeting.

“These documents are an important part of Council’s planning framework and outline a financially sustainable approach to achieving the outcomes of our Council Plan and Community Vision,” says Ararat Rural City Council CEO, Dr Tim Harrison.

“We invite the community to provide their feedback on both of these documents, as your insights are invaluable to this planning process.”

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS:

Ararat

Ararat Town Hall: Corner of Vincent St and Barkly St, Ararat

Tuesday 29 April 2025, 11am

Buangor

Buangor Community Sports Centre Pavilion: 196 Coach Rd, Buangor

Wednesday 30 April 2025, 2pm

Elmhurst

Mechanics Institute: High Street, Elmhurst

Tuesday 29 April 2025, 2pm

Lake Bolac

Lake Bolac Complex: Lake Bolac Complex Road, Lake Bolac (next to the swimming pool, entrance from Montgomery St)

Thursday 1 May 2025, 7pm

Moyston

Moyston Community Hall: 12 Brooke St, Moyston

Thursday 1 May 2025, 11.30am 

Pomonal

Pomonal Community Hall: 3360 Ararat-Halls Gap Rd, Pomonal

Thursday 1 May 2025, 3pm

Tatyoon

Tatyoon Hall: 2728 Tatyoon Rd, Tatyoon

Wednesday 30 April 2025, 7pm

Willaura

Willaura Memorial Hall: 93 Main St, Willaura

Thursday 1 May 2025, 5.30pm