Council budget

Merri-bek 4-Year Budget 2023-2027

The 4-year Budget 2023-2027 was adopted by Council on Tuesday 20 June 2023.

This year's total budget is $217.3 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 $250,000 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:

  • $80,000 – doubling the amount of shade structures at playgrounds and parks
  • $33,000 – Take the First Step Merri-bek (Domestic Violence Prevention)
  • $10,000 – installation of nesting boxes

Following the community budget ideas, we also allocated additional funding to these projects:

  • $100,000 – accessible tennis facilities and reserves
  • $50,000 – drinking fountains in shopping strips
  • $5,000 – more bins around parks

Budget highlights

In 2023-24 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 2023-24 of $123.2 million, to improve community infrastructure and stimulate jobs
  • $32.1 million towards upgrades of early years facilities over the next 5 years
  • $29 million for the construction of Saxon Street Creative and Community Hub
  • $36.9 million for stage one of Fawkner Leisure Centre upgrades
  • An extra $1.5 million to boost tree canopy cover
  • $24.1 million for parks, open spaces and streetscape improvements
  • $5.9 million for footpaths, bicycle paths and transport infrastructure
  • $120,000 for a new homelessness outreach program

Download the 2023-2027 budget:

Previous year budget