Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Mayor, Councillor Matthew Driscoll, said that Council is proud to deliver a budget that was developed with significant community input.

“Community consultation is a big part of the budget process and I’m pleased that we heard from so many residents about what our community wants and needs,” said Mayor Driscoll.

In the first stage of consultation roads, recreation, parks and gardens, and arts and culture were highlighted as important focus areas, as well as protecting the shire’s heritage.

During the second stage of consultation we heard of the need for funding to support projects from local organisations such as Castlemaine Community House, Metcalfe Community Association, and Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre Inc.

Read the full media release here.

Open Day budget consultation - "spend your rates"

We kicked off engagement for the 2024-2025 draft budget at Council's first ever open day on Monday 23 October 2023.

Nearly 30 people took part in the "Spend your rates" face to face activity. Participants were provided $50 in fake money to represent their rates. They then "spent" their rates by placing money on service area headings of their choice.

Nearly $1400 fake money was spent by participants on service areas in the following order (where 1 = the most money spent and 9 = the least money spent)

1. Arts, culture and the Library
2. Roads, footpaths and drainage
3. Aged, disability and family services
4. Community and economic development
5. Environment and health
6. Parks and gardens
7. Planning, building and local laws
8. Waste
9. Halls and community venues.

Learn more about what each service area category contains on the spend your rates page.

We repeated the activity again from October - December 2023, this time online through Shape Mount Alexander.

Nearly 60 people took part in the digital activity. Participants were provided $50 in fake money to represent their rates. They then "spent" their rates by placing money on service area headings of their choice.

Nearly $2900 fake money was spent by participants on service areas in the following order:

We also received nearly 30 written submissions.

Nearly 20 community members provided feedback on the draft budget, with half electing to speak to their submissions at the special Council Meeting in May 2024.