Greater Bendigo City Council Handles Budget Adoption and Planning Steps This Week

Greater Bendigo City Council adopted its $280 million 2026-27 budget this week, directing nearly $100 million toward roads, buildings, parks and community facilities.

The decision arrives as the council operates in caretaker mode with postal voting already underway for the October 24 election. Residents will soon decide the next group of councillors while several planning and environmental projects continue under existing approvals.

Budget and Financial Measures

The adopted budget includes a forecast $9.4 million deficit that prompted council to secure a $3 million loan. Funding priorities centre on infrastructure renewal across the municipality, with allocations tied to specific capital works rather than new operating programs.

These figures appear in the latest finance report presented to councillors before caretaker restrictions took effect. The loan arrangement aims to cover immediate cash-flow needs without altering the overall capital program outlined in the budget documents.

Planning and Site Management Updates

Council approved progress on Amendment C279gben to the Planning Scheme, which implements the Bendigo City Centre Plan. The public exhibition and approval process is expected to run 12 to 18 months.

Separately, a remediation plan to stop contaminated runoff from the Bendigo Gasworks site entering Bendigo Creek received EPA approval. A site management plan will now be developed over the next six months. Proposed heritage overlay changes affecting 18 sites remain under consideration and could intersect with a $30 million hotel development already in the pipeline.

Next steps include continued work on the city centre amendment and the gasworks management plan. Voters can access candidate information and postal voting details through the council’s election resources ahead of October 24.