On Monday 23 June 2023, Council adopted the new Plan for Port Phillip (including Budget) 2025-35.

The Plan for Port Phillip (including budget) 2025-35 is a four-year plan with a 10-year time horizon. It's designed to meet legal requirements and build on our past plans. The Plan for Port Phillip (including budget) 2025-35 replaces the Council Plan 2021-31. Every year we consult with our community to review, revise and update the Plan and Budget.

Visit the Plan for Port Phillip website for more information and to view the Plan.

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Over the last nine months approximately 1,500 people have contributed their ideas to the draft Plan for Port Phillip (including budget) 2025-35. This included surveys, forums, workshops, conversations, neighbourhood pop-ups, a deliberative community panel and more.

You can find out more about our community engagement we've undertaken so far in the engagement reports below, as well as checking out the short video and photos.

Please note that, as of March 2025, the Plan’s timeframe has been updated to better align with its longer-term goals, shifting from the previous 2025-2029 range.

This is the first four-year plan – and budget – to be delivered over the four-year term of our Council. Before developing the Plan, we asked ourselves “what makes a safe, cohesive and connected community?” We then sought community input, including from a Community Panel. This Plan reflects the priorities we heard from our community, both online and in person, and the contributions of about 1500 community members

Our response to common themes includes:

Community safety

Additional $250,000 to fund actions flowing from the Community Safety Roundtable and new Community Safety Plan, an additional Local Laws officer and investment in the public place CCTV network, boosted by $1.5 million after advocacy to the Australian Government.

Community connection and cohesion

Extra $250,000 towards addressing loneliness and isolation, social connection and combating discrimination, racism and anti-Semitism and $2.3 million over four years for affordable housing and homelessness.

Improved amenity

Additional $200,000 to uplift city amenity, including increased street cleaning and pressure washing, and an extra $9 million over the next decade towards improving roads and local infrastructure.

Events and festivals

Consolidation of St Kilda Festival for an additional $450,000 to be invested in Arts and Community Strengthening initiatives.

Greener City, including access to open space

Additional $400,000 to improve greening, including the development of urban forest precinct plans and an extra $4.5 million for the acquired Sandridge public open space.

Financially responsible budget

A three per cent average general rates increase in line with the rates cap. The Victorian Government’s rates cap has been set significantly below inflation, which has put pressure on our Council’s ability to fund and deliver services. Despite this, the budget maintains an ongoing efficiency target. We understand the cost of living impact on our community and have looked for ways to keep fee increases low and to deliver more equitable outcomes such as the private waste rebate.

This is just a snapshot of the many services, projects and initiatives in the Plan. It also embeds continuing measures to support vulnerable members of our community, including working with local housing and health providers through the Port Phillip Zero initiative and with community organisations offering food relief services. We also have several rates assistance measures for eligible residents including a pensioner rebate and various waivers.

We have also updated the 2021 Community Vision after considering the Panel’s views - it’s now “a liveable and vibrant city that enhances community connection and wellbeing”.

This Plan - with its focus on community safety, connection and cohesion - is key to achieving the refreshed Vision. I want to thank everyone who took the time to help us develop this roadmap for serving our community – both now and for years to come.

The Rating Strategy

Our rating strategy considers the principles of equity, fairness, efficiency and simplicity in setting rates that contribute to funding our services and programs annually.

When reviewing our rating strategy, we consider if it:

• has equitable outcomes
• is efficient
• is easy for ratepayers to understand
• appropriately manages the impacts of change on our community.

Legislative requirements

The Local Government Act 2020 (Section 90) says:

• A Council must prepare and adopt a Council Plan for a period of at least the next 4 financial years after a general election in accordance with its deliberative engagement practices.
• A Council must develop or review the Council Plan in accordance with its deliberative engagement practices and adopt the Council Plan by 31 October in the year following a general election.
• The Council Plan adopted under subsection (3) has effect from 1 July in the year following a general election.

All Victorian councils are required to develop a Health and Wellbeing Plan every four years directly following a council election, as directed under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

From 17 April to 18 May 2025, we sought your feedback about the draft Plan for Port Phillip (including budget) 2025-35. We wanted to know what you think should change to make sure it best reflects the current needs and priorities of Port Phillip.

Your feedback was used to inform the final Plan for Port Phillip (including budget) 2025-35 (the new Council Plan). We will summarise what we hear in a report, available in May 2025.