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Manningham City Council adopted its 2025/26 Budget on 30 June, keeping the average general rate rise to the State cap of 3.0%, lifting waste charges by 16%, and approving $314,223 in grants to 30 groups.
Under the budget resolution, Council set a uniform general rate of “0.00157946 cents in the dollar” of Capital Improved Value, to raise $111,793,379 in general rates. It also declared annual waste service charges to raise $21,012,000, and confirmed Cultural and Recreational Lands will be charged in lieu of rates as per the budget.
Council confirmed the average general rate increase will align with the 3.0% cap and continued a $150 low-income rebate for holders of a Commonwealth Low Income Health Care Card. Rates and charges will be payable in four instalments due 30 Sep 2025, 30 Nov 2025, 28 Feb 2026 and 31 May 2026, with interest applied in line with the Local Government Act.
For households, the standard waste service charge in 2025/26 is $303.50, plus the EPA landfill levy of $70.00. The combined 16.0% increase reflects an 8.80% rise in Council’s standard waste charge and a 7.20% rise in the State EPA landfill levy; waste charges are excluded from the rate cap. Council attributes cost pressures to higher levy, transport and disposal costs.
On community funding, councillors endorsed $314,223 in Annual Grants, reallocating $9,223 from the 2025/26 Small Grants Budget to cover an overspend. Final allocations are Community Development $87,271; Arts $46,090; Festivals & Events $45,503; Healthy Ageing $135,359.
Several Chinese community organizations are among the beneficiaries, including the Chinese Senior Citizens Club of Manningham ($7,440), Chinese Health Foundation of Australia ($10,000), Doncaster Chinese Senior Association ($4,100) and Manningham Australian Chinese Mutual Aid Association ($7,995), alongside other Healthy Ageing recipients.
In adopting the budget, Council said its priorities include “community health and wellbeing, safety, recreation, parks and public spaces, road maintenance and footpaths, environment, waste and stormwater, and support for local business.”
