East Gippsland residents are invited to have their say on the 2026-27 Council budget – an opportunity to give feedback and ideas about the Council projects and services that matter most, to help Council shape its budget and plan for future capital works and initiatives. 

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Your feedback helps Council understand:  

What services are most important to the community

What services the community thinks need to improve  

What services the community thinks Council is doing best

In a new approach to seeking budget input, residents and ratepayers will be able to provide feedback and make suggestions all year round via a survey. Feedback submitted before 12.00 pm, Monday 9 March 2026, will be considered by councillors when developing this year’s budget. Feedback received after 9 March will be considered for the following budget.

Mayor Cr Jodie Ashworth said the budget is also guided by the Council Plan 2025-29, long-term strategies, and ongoing conversations with the community.  

“It sets out the projects, services, and investments planned for the coming year,” Cr Ashworth said.

“In addition to these plans, strategies and ongoing conversations in communities, the opportunity to provide your feedback further helps councillors shape the budget. This could include road maintenance, footpaths, drainage and stormwater upgrades, coastal infrastructure, community facilities, arts and culture, recreational spaces, aged and youth services, climate action, or economic development.

“Council’s budget is tight, but we want to hear from you where we could make a difference.

“We must balance community priorities with legislative obligations, financial sustainability, asset renewal needs, and rising service costs. This means difficult choices are sometimes required, and not all requests can be funded in a single budget year.”

Cr Ashworth said making budget feedback available year-round via Council’s Your Say page will allow Council to use the feedback earlier as it prepares its budget.

Residents can complete the online survey at Your Say East Gippsland or in-person at any Council library or service centre. The survey asks questions about services that are most important to you, services that need improvement, services where Council is doing well, and suggestions for specific items councillors should consider.

Councillors and officers are having direct conversations with a range of stakeholders and groups across the shire, such as chambers of commerce, ratepayer groups, advisory committees and representative groups in smaller towns. There will also be community information sessions from 2.00-4.00 pm at:

Bairnsdale Library, Wednesday 11 February

Lakes Entrance Library, Monday 16 February  

Paynesville Library, Thursday 19 February  

Feedback can also be provided at any Council service centre or library, or via feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au or by calling 5153 9500. For more information about the budget process, visit eastgippsland.vic.gov.au.

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