Introducing a FOGO bin service
Introducing the Food and Garden Organics (FOGO) service to turn food waste into compost, addressing the climate emergency and contributing to the circular economy.
Learn more about Council's draft Budget for 2024/25
Every year Council develops a Budget that outlines funding for the next financial year and how it will benefit Yarra's community.
We are proud to present the draft Budget for 2024/25 that delivers the essential services and infrastructure our community relies on, funds the priority projects our diverse community wants and needs, and works to future proof the financial sustainability of our great city so that we can continue delivering for our growing community. Priority projects this year:
- tackle the climate emergency
- provide more open space where our community needs it most
- invest in our children and young people
- deliver upgrades to our much-loved community sporting facilities
- improve biodiversity
- invest in active and sustainable transport
- people who are vulnerable or at risk
- improve Council connections with community
In addition to delivering vital projects and initiatives for our community, Council are confident that this balanced and responsible Budget will leave a lasting, positive impact on Council’s long-term financial sustainability.
Building on last year’s Budget, we have again taken great strides towards our goal of financial sustainability, with smart investments, significant savings and careful and timely measures to reduce expenditure.
With our city’s population set to almost double by 2041, the key projects within this draft Budget have been carefully chosen to ensure they both meet the needs of our community now and respond to growing community demand, making sure Yarra remains one of the best places to live, work and play.
Have your say
Our 2024/25 draft Budget is open for community consultation from Friday 12 April to 5pm Friday 10 May. We are inviting feedback from the community and key stakeholders on the draft before the final Budget is presented to Council for adoption later this year.
We are also inviting comment on our draft Long-Term Financial Plan 2024/25 to 2033/34 which has been updated to incorporate this year’s Budget.
You can provide your feedback online or by chatting to us at one of our pop-up information sessions. We will be holding sessions on:
- Saturday 20 April at Otter Street Pocket Park from 10am to 12 midday
- Saturday 27 April at Gleadell Street Market from 10am to 12 midday.
Council will consider all feedback received through the consultation at the Extraordinary Council Meeting on Monday 3 June in line with the standard Budget process. If you tick the option “I would like to be contacted about speaking to my feedback at the Extraordinary Council Meeting on Monday 3 June” below we will contact you via email closer to the date of this meeting to notify you of the opportunity to speak to your feedback and explain the registration process for the meeting.
Project highlights for this year’s draft Budget
Addressing the climate emergency and sustainability
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Implementing our new Climate Emergency Plan
Implementing the new Climate Emergency Plan with a focus on protecting those most at risk from the impacts of climate change.
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Electrifying Council assets
Electrifying Council assets, including commencing works to get Collingwood Leisure Centre off gas.
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Planting more trees
Accelerating Yarra's Tree Planting program to cool our city, improve biodiversity, and create habitat for native wildlife.
Creating more open space including parks
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Designing and delivering new open spaces
Designing and delivering new open spaces through Council’s Roads to Parks program in consultation with the community.
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Upgrading sports facilities
Upgrading sporting facilities including Yambla Pavilion and Brunswick Street Oval.
Building a stronger and safer city and transport network
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Renewing critical infrastructure
Renewing critical infrastructure like roads, footpaths and kerbs including renewal of drains and re-lining of brick drains to mitigate flood risks.
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Improving transport for all road users
Improving infrastructure and safety for vulnerable road users while encouraging uptake in sustainable transport with the New Deal for Walking, New Deal for Cycling and New Deal for Schools.
Investing in our future through children and young people
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Expanding our kindergartens
Expanding kindergartens to accommodate free 3 and 4-year-old kinder under the State Government’s reforms including the refurbishment and reactivation of the new 44-place Atherton Gardens Kindergarten.
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Empowering children and young people
Providing empowering programs and activities for children and young people with a focus on members of culturally and linguistically diverse, at risk and hard-to-reach communities, including leadership training for the Yarra Youth Advocacy Group.
Supporting people who are vulnerable or at risk
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Providing shelter for at-risk communities
Trialling pop-up heatwave cooling relief centres for people experiencing homelessness and people from other at-risk communities within the municipality, improving safety and inclusion.
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Addressing homelessness and rough sleeping
Supporting the Yarra Zero program, a collective and collaborative initiative addressing homelessness and rough sleeping in Yarra.
Investing in new initiatives to improve Council connections with community
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Creating more engagement opportunities
Conducting a deliberative engagement on the new Council Plan that will bring a representative panel of the Yarra community together to inform Council’s plans for years to come.
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Providing a better customer experience
Uplifting digital capability, improving efficiency, and providing a better customer experience that enables the community to connect with Council.
Keeping our vibrant city active and connected
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Delivering the Leaps and Bounds Music Festival
Delivering the hugely successful Leaps and Bounds Music Festival for its 12th year to support our diverse arts community and stimulate the local economy in the winter months.
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Supporting Yarra’s Neighbourhood Houses
Partnering and supporting Yarra’s Neighbourhood Houses, which offer responsive, local programs designed to empower, connect, and educate individuals and groups.
