A responsible, forward-looking Budget in a tough environment

The Draft 2026–27 Budget reflects our community’s need for a balanced and responsible plan in a challenging financial climate. It focuses on delivering the services and infrastructure people rely on, while managing finances carefully so Council can remain sustainable into the future.

Stonnington is not alone in facing financial pressures. Right across Victoria, councils are dealing with increasing costs of operation while rate capping and limited revenue options restrict income growth. These pressures are widening the gap between what councils earn and what it costs to deliver services, making it harder and harder to keep it up.

This Budget reflects the wider economic conditions affecting households and communities, including inflation, global supply chain challenges, and rising costs for fuel, materials and services. It also takes into account the State Government’s $4 million Congestion Levy, which will impact Council-operated car parks.

Despite these challenges, Stonnington remains in a strong position to meet its commitments, supported by healthy cash reserves and a forecast reduction in debt. At the same time, like other councils, we’re working to address the ongoing gap between what comes in and what goes out. Strengthening long-term financial sustainability will be an important focus over the next three years.

Between October and November 2025, we invited the Stonnington community to share their views on Council services and spending priorities for the year ahead. More than 300 community members took part - through a survey and feedback - helping shape the draft Budget 2026-27.

Community engagement round 2 - Draft budget 2026-27

Share your feedback

The draft Budget 2026-27 is now open for feedback. Before you have your say, take a look at how your feedback from the first round of engagement has gone into the document. Want more detail? Read the full draft Budget below.

Your top five priorities

In round 1 of community engagement, we asked whether current service levels across 15 key areas should be reduced, maintained or improved. Across all 15 areas, the overwhelming message was clear: the community wants to protect what we have. Very few people wanted to see service levels reduce. Five areas stood out as the top funding priorities for our community. Read a summary of the first stage of community consultation by clicking here.

Top funding areas

What's in the draft Budget 2026-27

This budget invests in what you told us matters most, while making sure Stonnington remains financially strong for the future. Here's how your input has helped shape the draft Budget.

You told us this is your number one priority. In response, investment in roads, drainage and footpaths has increased significantly in the draft Budget.

  • Renewing roads, footpaths and drainage network across the municipality $19m.

You made it clear that community safety and health matters. We're continuing to invest in programs and infrastructure that make Stonnington safer for everyone.

  • Targeted joint patrols with Victoria Police at key locations $100k.
  • Public lighting program $100k.
  • Local Laws review to address public safety concerns $50k.

You called for better transport options and safer ways to get around. Funding has been allocated to improve how people move through Stonnington safely and sustainably.

  • Road safety improvements including traffic management studies $380k.
  • New on-road and off-road cycling infrastructure $340k.
  • Implementation of the Parking Action Plan across the municipality.

Your feedback supported expanding Council's network of green spaces and ensuring our playgrounds are safe and enjoyable for everyone.

  • New pocket park in Prahran at Porter Street and Grattan Street $750k.
  • Playground upgrades ensuring safety across the municipality $720k.
  • New pedestrian connection to Izett Street Pocket Park $450k.

You highlighted the importance of vibrant, well-maintained streets and precincts. Work is continuing across key locations.

  • Greville Street streetscape construction $940k.
  • Chapel Street Masterplan streetscape and lighting upgrades $500k.
  • Chapel Street precinct safety review and works $220k.
  • Roof, flooring and stormwater works at Prahran Market $1.15m.
  • Improvement works at Prahran Market $500k.
  • Road reconstruction in the Forrest Hill Precinct including Claremont Street and Yarra Street $500k.

We're renewing and upgrading key facilities so they remain safe, functional and accessible for the whole community.

  • Critical renewals at Council aquatic centres including first aid rooms and CO2 systems $1.07m.
  • Irrigation, drainage and pathway renewal at Malvern Valley Golf Course $600k.
  • Floodlight upgrades at TH King, Wadsworth Diamond Oval and East Malvern Tennis Courts $500k.
  • Central Park Pavilion Redevelopment concept design completion $80K.

We're continuing to invest in initiatives that reduce emissions and make Stonnington more sustainable for future generations.

  • Implementing climate action plans to reduce Council and community emissions $3.70m.
  • Expanding the FOGO food and garden organics recycling service $710k.

  • Draft budget 2026-27

    We've covered the key highlights above. For more details read the full draft Budget before sharing your feedback.

    Read the draft Budget 

Community engagement round 1

Council currently delivers more than 100 services that help make Stonnington the great place that it is - from libraries, parks and waste services, to community programs, events and infrastructure.

But financial pressures are growing. Like many Councils across Victoria, there is a widening gap between the income we receive from rates and the rising costs of operations, including roads, footpaths, sports fields, playgrounds and pools.

Our community expects and deserves the continuation of high-quality services and facilities, but Council cannot sustain existing levels of operation or invest in future priorities without additional funding.

Council's work can be broken down into four main categories:

  • Services (libraries, rubbish collection)
  • Responsibilities (producing annual reports)
  • Infrastructure (roads, footpaths, pipes)
  • Aspirations (transforming our precincts, new open space)

It's not just the challenge of maintaining our core everyday operations. We have some big aspirations over the next decade and beyond - like revitalising Chapel Street, creating new open spaces, ensuring fair access to our facilities for women and girls, as well as responding to a changing climate. The way we invest today, will futureproof our city for tomorrow, but that doesn't come without trade-offs.

Funding Stonnington Tomorrow is a community-wide conversation about how we increase funding capacity by introducing new revenue sources or reducing cost. It’s about what matters most to the people who live, work and spend time here. What services do you value? What should we protect, and what could we live with less of?

What are our options?

Ultimately, to fund Stonnington Tomorrow, it comes down to priorities and trade offs. Here's what the options could mean:

  • Option 1 - Reduce operations

    If things stay the way they are and we don’t find more funding, we will need to prioritise only essential services such as roads, drainage and rubbish, while making significant cuts to other valued programs such as libraries, community initiatives, sports, events and festivals.

  • Option 2 - Maintain operations

    By increasing efficiencies and exploring options to increase revenue, we could maintain services at their current level. Day-to-day operations would continue, but there would be limited ability to invest in aspirational things like new community parks, facility upgrades and important futureproofing work.

  • Option 3 - Improve operations

    If we take a more future-focussed approach to making cost savings and growing revenue, we can improve operations and set our city up for the years to come. This would mean we could deliver big projects our community cares about - like transforming Chapel Street, creating new parks and upgrading recreation facilities to ensure girls and women have fair access.

The bigger picture

This isn't just thinking about the next 12 months. It's about how the decisions we make today will shape the next decade and beyond. Put yourself in the shoes of future you...

  • Will there be enough green space for our future kids and grandkids to play?
  • What will getting to work or school look like?
  • Can we age in place with the services and facilities we need?
  • How resilient are we in a changing climate?
  • Will our streets be places we feel proud of?

Funding Stonnington Tomorrow is the start of that conversation. And it starts today.

Your privacy and personal information

The personal information requested on this project is being collected by Council for the purpose of facilitating the community engagement process for the Budget.

To find out how your personal information will be used by Council please visit the privacy policy page.

What do you want to provide feedback on next?