General News
30 May, 2025
Several Dimboola projects highlighted in budget
Hindmarsh Shire Council has handed down its 2025/26 budget, allocating $7.03 million for capital works and reaffirming its commitment to maintaining local infrastructure and supporting community priorities.
The rate cap for 2025/2026 will be 3 per cent and total revenue from rates is expected to reach $8.12 million.
The Municipal Charge will contribute $765,000, while kerbside waste and recycling services are budgeted at $1.29 million, bringing the total increase from last year to $293,000.
Key projects in Dimboola include upgrades to the swimming pool, kerb and channel works on Lloyd and Normanby streets, and shoulder resheeting on Old Minyip Road.
The Council will also continue funding the Dimboola Library and allocate $7,500 to the Dimboola Progress Association.
Shire-wide initiatives will also benefit the area, including $10,000 for the Youth Council, $20,000 each for Community Action and Business Assistance Grants, and $35,000 for community events.
Free public pool access and a green waste disposal month will again be offered across the region.
The budget also outlines the impact of state and federal funding changes.
The end of the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure grants means fewer large-scale upgrades, and rising construction costs above 3 per cent will limit the scale of road renewal.
Council also flagged a potential 189 per cent increase in the Emergency Services Property Levy, a state-imposed charge that Council collects on behalf of the Victorian Government.
With fewer than two residents for every kilometre of road, Hindmarsh faces unique challenges compared to cities like Geelong or Bendigo.
However, the Council will remain focused on roads, public health, parks, and cultural infrastructure.