Council budget

Merri-bek 4-year Budget 2024-2028

The 4-year Budget 2024-2028 was adopted by Council on Wednesday 26 June 2024.

This year's total budget is $235.9 million and includes the delivery of important services such as road resurfacing, maintaining footpaths, upgrading parks and playgrounds, as well as services for our older residents, MCH kindergarten, immunisation and much more.

Community ideas included in the budget

Our budget includes $399,000 allocated towards 6 ideas that were put forward by the community. We would like to say a big thank you to those residents who took the time to submit an idea for our budget, and those who also voted on their favourite option.

Here is the list of community budget ideas included:

  • $150,000 – accelerate the installation of shade structures over Merri-bek’s playgrounds
  • $59,000 – Take the Next Step Merri-bek (Domestic Violence Prevention)
  • $60,000 – drinking fountains in shopping strips
  • $40,000 – more seats on walking routes to the shops

and the 2 additional projects:

  • $60,000 – half-court basketball ring in Glenroy
  • $30,000 – free basketball and soccer fields for all of Fawkner

Budget highlights

In 2024-25 we continue a focus on core services and infrastructure, while improving services and making innovations where possible. Some highlights include:

  • A capital works program in 2024-25 of $92.7 million, to improve community infrastructure and stimulate jobs
  • Completing the construction of the $36.9 million Fawkner Leisure Centre redevelopment (stage one) which is due to open for the 2024-25 summer season
  • Completing the construction of the $29.0 million Saxon Street Cultural and Community Hub project
  • Investing in environmental sustainability, including grants to support low-income households to install insulation, solar panels and many other initiatives and programs
  • Continuing the $27.8 million upgrade works on several early year’s facilities over the next 5 years including Dunstan Reserve childcare centre and the Brunswick Early Years Hub
  • $23.6 million for parks, open spaces, and streetscape improvements
  • $18.9 million for roads and carparks renewal and maintenance
  • $4.6 million for footpaths, bicycle paths and transport infrastructure
  • Finalising the delivery of the Council Action Plan 2021-25

Download the 2024-2028 budget:

Previous years' budgets