A message about rates from your Mayor

Each year, we sit down over many months and develop our annual budget.

It is a long and complex process, as we aim to make sure we get it right. An important part of this is asking you the community for your input and feedback.

Thank you to all residents who made a submission during the Draft Budget 2023–24 consultation period – you play a vital role in helping us to direct funding where it’s needed.

I’m really proud of our Council team for delivering a sensible, balanced budget that safeguards Central Goldfields Shire as a healthy municipality with accessible, high-quality facilities and approximately 40 services.

My top priority as Mayor is to protect our community’s autonomy and continue striving for a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient Central Goldfields Shire despite the popular “myth”; Council is more than just rates, roads and rubbish.

The budget enables Council to provide vital services to our community.

Budget highlights include:

• Flood recovery works

• Maryborough Town Hall upgrade

• Deledio Reserve Netball Courts

• Indigenous Interpretive Garden at Central Goldfields Art Gallery

• Goldfields Reservoir Dam stabilisation works

• New toilets in Rene Fox Gardens Dunolly

• Scoping and design for key heritage projects including Princes Park Grandstand, Talbot Town Hall and Dunolly Town Hall

And many other improvements across our Shire.

This year rate rises are capped at 3.50% in line with State Government determined legislation and waste charges will increase by 8.7%.

We are working to help you, our ratepayers, who are experiencing difficulties due to the domino effects of the pandemic and a stressed global economy.

If you’re experiencing hardship, please reach out. Our friendly team can have a private discussion with you, and tailor a payment plan that reflects your individual circumstances. Please see the hardship section of this rates notice for more information. 

Mayor