From 18 December 2025, Council will be asking for your feedback on three important areas:

• The draft Capital Works Program – which includes projects planned for community spaces, roads, parks and facilities.
• The draft Initiatives Program – focusing on activities that support health, wellbeing and sustainability.
• Proposed changes to the Revenue and Rating Plan – including how Council raises funds for services and encourages vibrant shopping areas and housing availability.

Every year we review and update these plans that are essential to delivering the Banyule Plan and achieving the Community Vision 2041. Your input will help shape priorities, guide investment, and ensure decisions reflect what matters most to the Banyule community.

REGISTER for the online information session to talk with Council officers and hear how you can give feedback.

Get involved

Get involved in this project by completing the survey from 18 December, or coming and talking with Council officers at a pop-up conversation in January 2026.

Context

The Capital Works and Initiatives Programs are a core part of Council's Budget. They help to keep our roads in good shape, support local community services, and ensure our parks and community facilities are cared for.

Behind the scenes, the Revenue and Rating Plan makes it all possible, setting out council rates, fees and charges - the backbone of how we fund these services. The Revenue and Rating Plan is not just numbers, but a framework to keep our services running. This year Council is proposing some important changes to the way it raises funds for its services, and we'd love to hear your views.

The draft Capital Works and Initiatives Programs have been shaped by what matters most to our community and the realities of today’s economy.

Building on feedback from previous engagement, these programs focus on renewing and maintaining existing assets and delivering the most essential projects. This means prioritising things like roads, parks, community facilities and infrastructure that people use every day.

The rate cap announced by the Minister for Local Government in December 2025 will also affect the amount of funding available for these programs in 2026/27. This means Council will need to make careful choices about which projects go ahead and when. Your feedback on the draft Programs will help with this.

REGISTER for the online information session to talk with Council officers and hear how you can give feedback.

The Revenue and Rating Plan explains how Council raises the funds it needs to deliver the Budget, the Banyule Plan and the Community Vision 2041. It covers:

• how income is generated through rates
• service charges for things like waste and recycling
• fees for programs and services
• contributions from developers
• revenue from Council-owned assets
• grants from State and Federal Governments.

This Plan is the foundation for funding the services and projects that keep our community thriving.

What is Council thinking for 2026?

Council is considering a few changes to the Revenue and Rating Plan to make things fairer, more transparent, and to support our community’s needs.

1. Encourage active and vibrant shopping areas
   Council plans to apply a higher level of rates to vacant shops or empty business land. This is to discourage property owners from leaving spaces unused and help keep our shopping strips lively and attractive.
2. Help address housing shortages
   To discourage homes sitting empty for long periods , Council is considering having higher rates to the dollar for these properties. This would only apply to properties that are unoccupied for an extended time.

REGISTER for the online information session to talk with Council officers and hear how you can give feedback.

Banyule Plan 2025-29

The Banyule Plan 2025-29 is Banyule Council's big plan. It explains what Council wants to do over the next four years and what’s most important for the community. The Plan includes the Community Vision 2041, and shows how Council will work with individuals, groups and other partners to bring the Vision to life. It helps Council focus on what matters most and check if things are going well.

Council's Key Initiatives

Since being elected, the Mayor and councillors have been combining what the community told us with ongoing feedback and projects already underway. The entire Banyule Plan aims to respond to this as well as 7 key initiatives that show Council's focus over the next four years.

Banyule Delivery Plan

The Banyule Delivery Plan 2025-2029 explains what Council will do over the next four years to deliver, including projects and services and the big themes in the Community Vision 2041. It also includes priorities from the Banyule Community ThinkTank and connects with other important plans and policies. It focuses on health and wellbeing, and shows how Banyule will take action on climate change.

Health and Wellbeing Plan

The Health and Wellbeing Plan is about keeping our community healthy and happy. It sets out the main goals and priorities to improve health and wellbeing in Banyule.

This plan is part of the bigger Banyule Plan 2025–29, so health and wellbeing are included in everything Council does. It also follows important laws like the Gender Equality Act 2020 and the Climate Change Act 2017.

The plan was created using real data and feedback from the community. It focuses on five key priorities to help the council and its partners take action that makes life better for everyone.