The team at Ararat Rural City Council welcome your feedback on our Draft Budget 2026/2027.

Council is encouraging community members to have their say as part of its ongoing commitment to community consultation. Please see below for dates and times of face-to-face engagement sessions in our townships, and a drop-in session at Council offices.

A final draft of the Budget 2026/2027 is expected to be presented to the Council Meeting to be held on Tuesday 26 May 2026.

The full Draft Budget document and a Snapshot is available for community review now in the Document Library to the right.

Submissions open on 20 March and close Friday 24 April 2026 at 5:00pm.

Engagement Sessions

Community engagement sessions will be held at the following venues:

LocationVenue AddressDate and Time
AraratArarat Town Hall: Corner of Vincent St and Barkly St, AraratMonday 23 March 2026, 5:30pm
BuangorBuangor Cobb & Co: 196 Coach Rd, BuangorWednesday 25 March 2026, 10:30am
ElmhurstMechanics Institute: High Street, ElmhurstWednesday 25 March 2026, 3:30pm
Lake Bolac Lake Bolac Info & Business Centre: 2110 Glenelg Highway, Lake Bolac
Monday 23 March 2026, 1:30pm
MoystonMoyston Community Hall: 12 Brooke St, MoystonTuesday 24 March 2026, 1.00pm
PomonalPomonal Community Hall: 3360 Ararat-Halls Gap Rd, PomonalTuesday 24 March 2026, 11.00am
TatyoonTatyoon Hall: 2728 Tatyoon Rd, TatyoonThursday 26 March 2026, 12:00pm
WillauraWillaura Memorial Hall: 93 Main St, WillauraTuesday 24 March 2026, 3.00pm


Can’t make it to a session? We’re also hosting a drop-in session at Ararat Rural City Council offices at 59 Vincent Street, Ararat. This will be held on Friday 27 March 2026, from 9:00am-2:00pm.

Consultation Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Submissions Open

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Ararat Community Engagement Session

    Ararat Town Hall Foyer, Barkly Street, Ararat

    Monday 23 March 2026

    5:30pm - 6:30pm

  • Timeline item 3 - complete

    Buangor Community Engagement Session

    Buangor Cobb & Co

    Wednesday 25 March 2026

    10:30am - 11:30am

  • Timeline item 4 - complete

    Elmhurst Community Engagement Session

    Mechanics Institute, High Street, Elmhurst

    Wednesday 25 March 2026

    3:30pm - 4:30pm

  • Timeline item 5 - complete

    Lake Bolac Community Engagement Session

    Lake Bolac Complex Road, Lake Bolac (next to the swimming pool, entrance from Montgomery St)

    Monday 23 March 2026

    1:30pm - 2:30pm

  • Timeline item 6 - complete

    Moyston Community Engagement Session

    Moyston Community Hall, 12 Brooke St, Moyston. Tuesday 24 March 2026

    1:00pm - 2:00pm

  • Timeline item 7 - complete

    Pomonal Community Engagement Session

    Pomonal Community Hall, 3360 Ararat-Halls Gap Rd, Pomonal

    Tuesday 24 March 2026

    11:00am - 12:00pm

  • Timeline item 8 - complete

    Tatyoon Community Engagement Session

    Tatyoon Hall, 2728 Tatyoon Rd, Tatyoon

    Thursday 26 March 2026

    12:00pm - 1:00pm

  • Timeline item 9 - complete

    Willaura Community Consultation Session

    Willaura Memorial Hall

    Tuesday 24 March 2026

    3:00pm - 4:00pm

  • Timeline item 10 - complete

    Drop-in sessions

    Ararat Rural City Council Offices

    59 Vincent Street, Ararat

    Friday 27 March 2026 between 9:00am - 2:00pm for a one-on-one discussion

  • Timeline item 11 - incomplete

    Submissions close

    Friday 24 April 2026 at 5:00pm.

  • Timeline item 12 - incomplete

    Budget Adopted at Council Meeting

    Council Meeting On Tuesday 26 May 2026

Submissions

When you have had the opportunity to review either the Draft Budget Snapshot or full Draft Budget, here are some tips to make the most of your Draft Budget feedback:

  • You can provide your feedback in the form to the right of the screen, or by submitting a document.
  • If you would like a response to your feedback, please make sure your contact details are provided. These will not be shared publicly.
  • Feedback received during the Engagement Sessions will also be noted as a submission.

Submissions can be made via this website between 20 March 2026 to Friday 24 April 2026, or by writing to Ararat Rural City Council - PO Box 246, Ararat, VIC, 3377, or emailing [email protected].

Submissions will close Friday 24 April 2026 at 5:00pm.

A final draft of the Budget 2026/2027 is expected to be presented to the Council Meeting to be held on Tuesday 26 May 2026.