Council last night adopted the Budget 2025/2026 marking a bold step forward with substantial investment in everyday infrastructure and transformative projects, including the redevelopment of Bendigo Art Gallery.
For the first time, the Budget and the newly adopted Council Plan Mir wimbul 2025-2029 have been developed and planned together to ensure a strong alignment between strategic goals and the resources required to achieve them.
These milestone documents have been shaped through extensive community engagement that began back in late 2024.
The Budget 2025/2026 has an annual action plan to ensure efficient and sustainable delivery of services.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said investing in long term projects supported Greater Bendigo’s growth.
“We have some very exciting projects ahead that are vital for the region’s future economic success,” Cr Metcalf said.
“The $45M redevelopment of the Bendigo Art Gallery will reshape the region’s future.
As the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by Council, it will elevate the Gallery’s status as a cultural and economic asset for both our region and the state of Victoria. Council’s $9M investment has helped secure more than $34M in external funding, including $21M from the State Government, $4M from the Gallery Board and more than $9M in philanthropic donations – an amazing achievement.
“Funding partners are critical to major project delivery across Bendigo, including the State Government fully funding the redevelopment of the Bendigo Bowls and Croquet Clubs, and investing in the Bendigo Low Line Walking and Cycling Trail between Golden Square and White Hills.
“All three levels of government have invested in the North Bendigo Recreation Reserve stage 1 pavilion works, and the Federal Government and the City are also upgrading the Golden Square Recreation Reserve Pavilion and jointly investing in the new Heathcote Civic Precinct.
“The Budget will invest in important infrastructure used daily in the community. There are around 230 road renewals, six new footpaths, 14 footpath renewals, new roundabouts, tram track upgrades, bridge renewals, Waratah Road and Midland Highway intersection signalisation, playspace renewals and much more.
“Developing the Council Plan and Budget at the same time has ensured that our strategic goals are directly supported by the projects and initiatives we’re funding.
“Top priorities identified through community engagement are roads, (including public and active transport), waste management, and parks and trails. The recurring themes were for Greater Bendigo to be responsible, healthy, thriving and welcoming.
“The Budget 2025/2026 has been developed to be fiscally responsible while managing community expectations. This is a balanced approach that reflects our commitment to deliver around 60 essential community services, progress multi-year capital works, and maintain essential infrastructure used daily in the community.
“There are limited funds available and this Budget seeks to address these concerns by continuing to fund existing services wisely and prioritise works and services in a responsible manner.”
The Budget has been developed in line with the State Government’s rate cap of 3 per cent. As with previous years, Council has not applied for a variation to the rate cap as it seeks to absorb increasing costs for supplies, goods and services.
There will be no increase to waste charges for ratepayers in the new financial year.
The Budget 2025/2026 is valued at $259M, with an operating budget of $189M funding services like waste collection, street cleaning, environmental health, statutory planning, road maintenance, flood restoration works, early learning, immunisation, tourism and visitor services, and much more, and a capital works budget of $70M for new infrastructure projects across the community.
Budget 2025/2026 highlights
- The Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment, stage 1
- Redevelopment Bendigo Bowls and Croquet Clubs
- Golden Square Recreation Reserve pavilion upgrade and renewal
- North Bendigo Recreation Reserve pavilion upgrade, stage 1
- Bendigo City Centre Strategic Cycling Corridor – Mundy Street (between Back Creek and McCrae Street, Bendigo)
- 4.4km Low Line Walking and Cycling Trail, between Golden Square and White Hills
- Heathcote Civic Precinct (incorporating Heathcote Library)
- Bendigo City Centre Strategic Cycling Corridor (Mundy Street between Back Creek and McCrae Street, Bendigo)
- 4.4km Low Line Walking and Cycling Trail between Golden Square and White Hills
- Six new footpaths including Carolyn Way (Monsants Road to Pratty’s Way, Maiden Gully), Simpsons Road (Hill Street to Burnside, Eaglehawk), Reserve Street (Eaglehawk to Bright Street), Mistletoe Street (Mackenzie Street west to Aspinall Street, Kangaroo Flat), Sparrowhawk Road (from 112 Stray Street to Humboldt Drive, Long Gully), and Midland Highway new footpath at Ligar Street (to bus stop), Huntly
- 14 footpath renewals including: High Street (Lily Street to Violet Street north, Bendigo), Spring Gully Road (Autumn Gully Road to school crossing, Spring Gully ), Violet Street (High Street to Creek Street North (west), Poplar Street (High Street to Panton south), Moran Street (Brown Street to No.3 west, View Street (Valentines Street to Langston Street east, Rowan Street (Short Street to Wattle Street south), Condon Street (Barwon Drive to Lambruk Street, Kennington), Victoria Street (Magazine Street to Grenfell Avenue, Eaglehawk), Averys Road, Parker Street to existing footpath
- 230 road renewals (including three road reconstructions and more than 200 road reseal/resurfacing sites or gravel re-sheeting). Sealed roads include Waratah Road and Midland Highway intersection traffic lights, major patching, raised pedestrian crossings, Howard Street, Epsom (between Bowles Road and the Bendigo Creek Bridge), Racecourse Road pavement and intersection upgrade, Mitchell Street, Axedale (road reconstruction from 54 Mitchell Street to Midland Highway), sealed car parks (renewal)
- Tram track renewal
- Roundabouts – Rowan Street and MacKenzie Street, Bendigo; Mackenzie Street and Forest Street, Bendigo, Howard Street new roundabout and pavement widening
- Raised pedestrian crossings: Mundy Street, Bendigo, Brougham Street, Bendigo, Galvin Street, Bendigo
- Bridge renewals: Thistle Street and Wade Street footbridge, Toolleen-Axedale bridge, Heathcote-East-Baynton Road, Mia Mia, Bridge Street and Hallam Street road bridges
- Bendigo Airport – street lighting, second runway(taxiway) renewal
- Bus shelter, Calder Highway at Maiden Gully
- Bus shelter replacement – Strathfieldsaye Road and Sullivans Road, Strathfieldsaye
- Trotting Terrace, Junortoun – four new streetlights
- Redevelopment of Bendigo Bowls and Croquet Clubs
- Golden Square Recreation Reserve pavilion upgrade and renewal
- North Bendigo Recreation Reserve pavilion upgrade, stage 1
- Strathfieldsaye Recreation Reserve – renew two netball courts, lighting, shelter and landscaping
- 4.4km Low Line Walking and Cycling Trail, between Golden Square and White Hills
- Bendigo City Centre Strategic Cycling Corridor – Mundy Street (between Back Creek and McCrae Street, Bendigo)
- Half-court basketball court at Heathcote Skate Park
- Heathcote tennis/netball courts and lighting renewal design
- Swimming pool equipment maintenance
- Malone Park, Marong oval lighting renewal, recreation reserve power upgrade and timekeeper’s box
- Kangaroo Flat Skate Park (design)
- BMX track drainage design, Eaglehawk
- Marist College Maiden Gully Cricket Nets (subject to grant funding)
- Queen Elizabeth Oval northwest corner redevelopment – investigation and design
- Strathdale Park tennis pavilion – site assessment and planning
- Four playspace renewals at Michie Street, Elmore, Osborn Avenue and Howell Crescent, Kangaroo Flat and Fairfield Boulevard, Jackass Flat
- Cooinda Park toilet block
- Garden Gully Reserve Master Plan will see a multi-year project that includes a new suburban level playspace at a new location, new toilet block facilities, improved parking and connecting paths to the Ironbark Gully Trail
- Crusoe Reservoir – replace butterfly valve (renewal)
- Bendigo Creek – Booth to High Street (north side) (renewal)
- Bendigo Creek – Back Creek to Nolan (north side) (renewal)
- Bendigo Creek – Chapel to Baxter (south side) (renewal)
- Back Creek – Williamson to Mundy Street (renewal)
- Development related drainage
- Stormwater quality works
- Flood mitigation waterway and drainage improvements
- Drainage (renewal)
- Heritage shelter renewal at Lake Weeroona
- Rosalind Park Conservatory timber and glazing replacement
- Bendigo Town Hall heating and cooling
- Refurbishment of fountains and water features (renewal)
- Statue and monument renewal
- Dudley House drainage (renewal)
- Accessibility upgrade for The Capital stage
- Tram track renewal
- 4.4km Low Line Walking and Cycling Trail, between Golden Square and White Hills
- Bendigo City Centre Strategic Cycling Corridor (Mundy Street (between Back Creek and McCrae Street, Bendigo)
- Feasibility study for Marong township and energy information sessions
- Faith Leech Aquatic Centre (design)
- Continued investment in biodiversity engagement in community
- Grow Towards Zero carbon offsetting revegetation program, Sutton Grange
- Bendigo Library lighting and amenity (renewal)
- Australian Manchester Unity Building, Eaglehawk – design work to develop 5-year renewal plan
- Bendigo Animal Relief Centre (kennel renewal)
- Tom Flood Park Road Hall amenity (renewal)
- Rosalind Park Conservatory timber and glazing replacement
- Bendigo Town Hall heating and cooling
- Lighting and audio equipment replacement for The Capital and Ulumbarra
- Accessibility ramp at The Capital stage
- Library book locker, Huntly Memorial Hall
- Maiden Gully Hall renewal – design and costing for future investment
- Former Marong Shire Hall renewal – concept plan and costing for future investment
- Marong Men’s Shed extension
- Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre renewal – concept plan and costing for future investment