Council Plan and Budget

The Council Plan is a strategic plan that guides all our work. It provides a strong foundation for the continuing rollout of projects, services and initiatives that go to the heart of the health and wellbeing of our diverse community. 

A Budget outlines the income and revenue we receive and the planned spending across our services and initiatives over the next 12 months and subsequent 3 financial years. A budget is prepared and adopted each financial year. 

Each financial year, we will update the Plan and Budget, and it requires redrafting every time a new Council is elected to ensure it continues to accurately reflect the vision of our councillors and community. 

Approximately 1,500 people shared their ideas and vision for Port Phillip across four phases of community and stakeholder engagement.

The Plan also meets the legal requirements of all councils to deliver a long-term Community Vision, Council Plan, Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, Financial Plan, Revenue and Rating Plan, Asset Plan and Annual Budget. The Plan for Port Phillip incorporates these requirements to provide Council and the community with one cohesive strategic document, linking our goals with our resources.

What’s in it?

The Plan for Port Phillip (including budget) 2025-35 outlines a range of priority areas, investments and initiatives that will shape the future of Port Phillip. Including: 

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 Council’s ability to fund and deliver services. Despite this, the budget maintains an ongoing efficiency target.

Our Community Vision

 “A liveable and vibrant City that enhances community connection and wellbeing” 

The Port Phillip community developed the Community Vision in 2021. As part of developing the 2025–35 Plan for Port Phillip (including the budget), Council worked with the community - guided by input from a community panel - to review and update the Community Vision. 

Strategic directions

The Plan for Port Phillip sets out six new Strategic Directions. They guide our priorities and actions as we work towards achieving the Community Vision.