Why we have a Council Plan

Community needs and expectations change over time. A Council Plan ensures services, projects and priorities continue to provide value for money and reflect community expectations.

The current plan

The Council Plan 2025–2029 sets the City of Ballarat’s direction for the next four years. It translates the aspirations of the Community Vision 2025–2035 into clear goals, actions and measurable outcomes.

Link to the budget

The annual budget is how Council funds delivery of services, maintains existing assets and invests in new projects to support a growing city. Feedback received during the budget process helps ensure Council is aware of community priorities within the context of the Council Plan.

Ongoing engagement

Council regularly seeks community input through initiatives such as the Let’s Chat Expo and Councillor roadshows. This ongoing engagement helps inform the Council Plan and future budgets.

How the plans were shaped

Community engagement for the Community Vision 2025–2035 and Council Plan 2025–2029 began in October 2024. Council held a series of advertised sessions across the municipality, supported by hard copy and online surveys.

Community Panel

A randomly selected panel of 43 community members met over three sessions between February and March 2025. Their task was to help Council prioritise and balance services, infrastructure and finances to support Ballarat’s growth.

What the panel delivered

• An updated Community Vision 2025–2035
• A set of principles written in their own words
• A final report handed to Council in March 2025

Why this matters for the budget

The Council Plan and Community Vision set the direction for Council’s work. The annual budget allocates funding to deliver on these priorities, meaning the budget already reflects extensive community input.

Where the money comes from

Council raises revenue through rates, user fees and government funding. Around 70% of income comes from rates and user fees, with Council actively seeking grants to help reduce the burden on ratepayers. This revenue is used to cover the cost of delivering services and funding capital works, ensuring a sustainable budget each year.

How the money is spent

• About 70% goes to delivering over 80 everyday services, such as:
  • Kerbside bin collection and waste management
  • Maintaining local roads and cleaning streets
  • Parks, gardens and sports areas
  • Maternal and child health and family services
  • Early learning centres and libraries
  • Aquatic facilities and arts venues (Art Gallery, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Civic Hall)
  • Tourism, events and visitor services
  • Regulatory services such as animal management and food safety
• Around 30% goes to capital works, including upgrades and new projects that support Ballarat’s growth.

Managing community assets

Council manages over $2.5 billion in community assets. The budget ensures these assets are maintained and upgraded, with a focus on core services and infrastructure that deliver the greatest benefit - such as roads, community hubs, sporting facilities, libraries and outdoor spaces.

Why it matters

In Australia, responsibilities are shared across three levels of government – federal, state and local. Each plays a distinct role in delivering services and managing resources that affect our daily lives.

What local government does

Local councils are responsible for community-level services and facilities such as waste collection, local roads, libraries, parks, kindergartens and sporting facilities. Councils also manage land use planning, local laws and community infrastructure.

How this links to the budget

The City of Ballarat’s annual budget focuses on funding the services and facilities Council is directly responsible for. State and federal governments may contribute grants or funding for specific projects, but local rates remain the main source of income to deliver everyday services.

Learn more

For a simple overview of how local government works and the responsibilities of councils, visit the Municipal Association of Victoria website here or the Parliamentary Education Officer here.

Rising costs

Like households, Council faces cost increases for goods, services and construction. The cost of delivering services and maintaining assets continues to rise.

Keeping up with growth

As Ballarat grows, Council must balance the community’s needs with the money available. Without increasing revenue, it becomes harder each year to maintain service quality and keep up with demand.

Sustainable budget

To stay financially sustainable, the budget must fund Council’s core services and deliver on the priorities in the Council Plan. This means considering:

• Borrowings
• Identifying new grant opportunities
• New cost efficiencies
• How much revenue can be raised within the State Government’s rate cap system

There are several ways you can share your views and get more information during the Annual Budget

• Complete the survey: Share your thoughts online via MySay.
• Attend a drop-in session: Speak directly with Council’s finance team.
• Ask a question: Contact Customer Service during business hours on 5320 5500 and request to be directed to the Finance team.
• Stay informed: Follow updates on the MySay page, Council’s website, newsletters, and social media.

Other ways you can get involved more broadly with Council include:

• Staying informed via the City of Ballarat website, MySay platform, newsletters, Facebook and other channels.
• Councillor Roadshows and Let’s Chat sessions in your local ward.
• Attending Council meetings (6:30pm, every fourth Wednesday at Ballarat Town Hall or watch online).
• Contributing to feedback on Council plans and strategies.
• Seek funding by participating in City of Ballarat grants programs.