Greater Bendigo Council approves 2026/27 budget with unchanged waste collection charges

Greater Bendigo Council has approved a $280 million budget for the 2026/27 financial year that keeps bin and waste collection service costs unchanged for residents. The decision was made at the recent council meeting and includes $97 million allocated to capital works such as the Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment and the Low Line trail.

Budget measures and resident costs

The council confirmed that waste collection charges will stay the same for the full 2026/27 year. To deliver the capital program the council will borrow $7.3 million. This approach means households will not face higher fees for regular bin services while work on listed projects begins.

Capital spending covers specific local infrastructure. The Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment and Low Line trail are named items within the $97 million allocation. These works are scheduled within the 2026/27 financial year, so physical progress on sites is expected once funding flows.

Planning decisions and development timelines

Council approved a new residential hotel at the corner of Williamson and Mollison streets after reducing the maximum height from 23.15 m to 12 m to protect nearby heritage sites. The approval sets the scale of the building that can proceed.

Council rejected a proposal for a 7-Eleven service station at the corner of Bridge and Arnold streets. The applicant has appealed the decision to VCAT, so the outcome now depends on that process. Separately, councillors voted to add Ravenswood as an investigation area in the Managed Growth Strategy, opening examination of up to 2,000 hectares that could support a housing tract for 10,000 people in the longer term.

These planning outcomes affect different timeframes. The hotel approval allows construction to move forward under the revised height limit. The service station appeal and Ravenswood investigation will follow separate procedural steps before any further local change occurs.