Casey Council is presenting draft Council Plan 2025-2029, updated Long-Term Community Vision 2035, proposed Budget 2025/26 and other key documents for community feedback.
Throughout 2024, Council ran a thorough community engagement program called Shape Your City to review and update the Community Vision 2031.
Feedback collected from the Shape Your City program has informed the development of eight key strategic documents, including:
Draft Long Term Community Vision 2035
Draft Council Plan (including the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan) 2025-29
Draft Annual Action Plan 2025/26
Draft Financial Plan 2025/26 – 2034/35
Draft Budget Report (Budget 2025/26, Capital Works Program 2025/26) including draft
Schedule of Fees and Charges 2025/26
Draft Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-29
Draft Asset Plan 2025-35 and
Draft Road Management Plan 2025
Mayor of Casey Cr Stefan Koomen said: “Our updated Community Vision incorporates the voices of more than 4,600 community members through the 2024 Shape Your City engagement program.
“The Community Vision is owned by the whole community and guides the tone for everything we do, from planning new infrastructure, to delivering health and wellbeing services, to designing public spaces our community can enjoy.”
The Council Plan 2025 – 2029 sets out how the Council will make the Community Vision a reality. It is built around five strategic outcomes: stronger communities, liveable city, sustainable environment, thriving local economy and high-performing organisation.
The draft Plan delivers practical actions and measurable outcomes across all areas of the community.
Health and wellbeing are embedded across all aspects of the Plan, focusing on prevention and equity, to ensure everyone is supported across all stages of life.
“This year’s plan represents a strong investment in the future of Casey. Whether it’s access to local jobs, high-quality parks and playgrounds, and safer, more inclusive community spaces,” Mayor Cr Koomen said.
The proposed Budget 2025/26 features a total spend of $640.94 million, including a major investment of $125.8 million in Capital Works projects.
“This means upgraded parks, high-quality leisure and recreation facilities, community hubs, and new opportunities for residents to meet and connect,” Mayor Cr Koomen said.
Key highlights from the proposed Budget 2025/26 include:
$9.8 million for major upgrades to Doveton Pool in the Park (Stages 1, 2 and 3)
$3.1 million for tree planting across Casey
$3.5 million in community grants
$11.8 million for Springleaf Recreation Reserve, including AFL ovals, cricket nets, netball courts, playground and pavilion
$5.1 million for the new Ballarto Road Family and Community Centre
$2.3 million for a pavilion upgrade at Tooradin Recreation Reserve
$2.0 million for a new multipurpose community space at the Old Cheese Factory
$800,000 for a new Max Pawsey Reserve Playground
$1.6 million for new recreational trails between Eumemmering Creek and Lysterfield
Multiple playground renewals, including Lyall Street, Bridgewater Boulevard, and Central Parkway Reserves
$435,000 for a safer pedestrian crossing at Ernst Wanke Road and Parkhill Drive
$634,000 across six sites aimed at reducing traffic speed across Casey
The draft Budget features an operating budget of $540.2 million and a capital works program of $125.8 million.
This includes the Council’s biggest year ever for playground renewals, with 21 sites listed and a total value of $7.8 million.
“Eddie Barron Reserve Playground in Berwick, Courtenay Avenue Playground in Cranbourne North, and Marjorie Eastick Reserve in Hampton Park are on this list,” Mayor Cr Koomen said.
The draft Budget also tackles rising service delivery costs with waste management costs budgeted at $69 million, a 20 per cent increase on last year due to external cost pressures and greater service demand.
“We’re advocating for better roads and transport, so you can spend more time with your loved ones and less time stuck in traffic. We’re investing in early years education, boosting access to sport and leisure, and supporting residents to get involved with our community,” Mayor Cr Koomen said.
The Victorian Government’s rate cap for 2025/26 has been set at 3 per cent, and Casey’s draft Budget takes this limit into consideration when mapping out planned spending over the next year.
Like all local councils, Casey has experienced significant increases in costs for construction, contracts and materials.
The local government sector is also seeing reductions in available grant funding from the State and Federal Government.
The draft Council Plan, updated Long-Term Community Vision, proposed Budget 2025/26, and other key documents are now open for public feedback until Thursday 8 May.
Visit: conversations.casey.vic.gov.au/shape-your-city to view them and make a submission.
