Published on Wednesday, 29 July 2026 at 1:00:01 PM
July has been a busy month for Council, with both an Ordinary Council Meeting and a Special Council Meeting held to consider a range of important matters affecting our community.
The most significant decision was the adoption of the Shire's 2026–27 Annual Budget.
Preparing the budget is one of Council's most important responsibilities each year, as it determines how we will deliver services, maintain our assets and invest in projects across the district over the coming 12 months.
Like households, businesses and local governments across Australia, the Shire continues to experience significant increases in the cost of delivering everyday services. Construction costs, materials, fuel and other essential expenses have all continued to rise, making it more expensive to maintain roads, community facilities and other infrastructure.
After carefully considering the cost pressures facing both the community and the Shire, Council adopted a five per cent increase in general rates.While we recognise that any increase affects our ratepayers, this decision balances affordability with our responsibility to maintain the services, facilities and infrastructure our communities rely on.
Importantly, the budget includes no new borrowings, with existing debt continuing to reduce while the Shire's financial reserves are expected to grow, helping position the Shire well for the future.
At the Ordinary Council Meeting, Council also adopted the 2026–27 Firebreak Notice.
This Notice has been updated from previous years and as we move towards another bushfire season, I encourage all landowners to familiarise themselves with the requirements and ensure their properties are prepared well before the compliance date.
Council also established the Ravensthorpe Tourism Working Group, replacing the former Tourism Advisory Group. The new working group provides a more flexible way for local businesses, community groups and government agencies to work together on initiatives that support tourism and strengthen our local economy.
And lastly, Council adopted a new Whistleblower (Public Interest Disclosure) Policy to strengthen good governance and ensure there are clear and confidential processes for reporting suspected wrongdoing.
Cr Rachel Gibson
Shire President
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