East Gippsland Shire Council has formally adopted its 2025–26 Annual Report, highlighting a year of service delivery, community investment, strategic planning and advocacy.
The Annual Report was adopted at Council’s meeting on Tuesday 20 October and outlines Council’s performance against its Council Plan objectives, financial position and achievements throughout the past financial year.
Mayor Cr Jodie Ashworth said the report reflects Council’s ongoing commitment to delivering for the community while planning for East Gippsland’s future.
“Community matters, and our Annual Report shows how this commitment translates into the services we deliver, the infrastructure we maintain and the work we do to support our communities,” Cr Ashworth said.
“From investing in essential infrastructure and strengthening community engagement to supporting local businesses and planning for future growth, we continue to focus on the things that matter to East Gippsland.”
Council delivered $30.4 million in capital works during 2025–26, completing important infrastructure upgrades while continuing to maintain and renew roads, bridges, drainage, buildings, recreation facilities and public spaces across the shire.
The year also saw progress on key plans and strategies to guide the region’s future, alongside the introduction of new digital systems and services designed to improve Council’s operations and support the community.
Council continued to support local economic development through business support, industry partnerships, local development strategies and regional promotion, including the Visit East Gippsland website, which launched in September 2025.
The report also outlines Council’s financial performance, including a $7.7 million net operating surplus for 2025–26. However, when looking at the recurring income and expenditure associated with day-to-day services and operations, Council recorded an underlying deficit of $3.1 million.
Mayor Cr Jodie Ashworth said Council remained focused on managing its finances responsibly to ensure it could continue providing important services for the community, now and into the future.
“Just like a household budget, it’s important that we don’t spend more than we earn over the long term,” Cr Ashworth said.
“While our overall financial result remains positive, we know we need to keep focusing on financial sustainability so we can continue delivering the services, roads, libraries, parks and facilities our community relies on.”
Council will continue to focus on finding efficiencies, managing costs carefully and making sound long-term decisions to ensure services remain affordable and sustainable for future generations.
Chief Executive Officer Fiona Weigall said the Annual Report reflects both the progress made during the year and the ongoing challenges of delivering services and infrastructure in a changing financial environment.
“Despite continued cost pressures, rising construction prices and challenges affecting project delivery, Council has continued to progress important priorities for our community,” Ms Weigall said.
“We are strengthening our project planning and delivery, managing our resources carefully and looking for efficiencies to ensure we continue to deliver for our community.”
The Annual Report includes Council’s financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2026, providing a detailed account of its financial performance, assets, liabilities and capital investment.
It also outlines Council’s continued advocacy for fairer and more sustainable funding arrangements to support local services and infrastructure.
The 2025–26 Annual Report is available on Council’s website.