In short:
A $14,130 Wyndham City Council Budget Forum in Werribee drew just 32 residents and seven councillors. Outsourced to a private consultant instead of using internal staff, the 90-minute event cost about $441 per person.
Consultant-Led Forum Costs Ratepayers $14k
Wyndham City Council is facing questions from residents after spending $14,130 on a public Budget Forum that drew just 32 attendees, despite being costed to accommodate 150 people.
The 90-minute event was held at the Wyndham Civic Centre on 16 August and aimed to give residents a chance to discuss transparency, spending priorities, and the council’s 2025–26 Budget. But with fewer than one in three registered participants showing up, the session ended up costing ratepayers around $441 per person.
The council confirmed the forum was not included in this year’s operational budget and required additional spending to deliver. Instead of running the event in-house through its own communications and engagement teams, the council hired private consultancy firm MosaicLab to facilitate the discussion and prepare a report on the outcomes.
That decision has left some locals scratching their heads, questioning why a consultant was paid when the council already employs communications and engagement specialists.
Just seven councillors attended the event — Shannon McGuire, Jasmine Hill, Larry Zhao, Robert Szatkowski, Susan McIntyre, Maria King and Peter Maynard.
The forum attracted residents from Point Cook, Wyndham Vale, Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit and Truganina, as well as one attendee from Footscray. Although only a single participant came from Truganina, one of the most discussed topics on the day was the controversial Truganina Private Security Trial, which several residents from other suburbs raised concerns about.
A total of 57 questions and four comments were submitted during the Q&A session, covering issues such as community safety, road congestion, rubbish collection, and the fairness of budget allocations between established and newer suburbs. Participants also called for clearer communication about council decisions, earlier engagement before votes are taken, and easier access to information.
The council’s official report described the event as providing “valuable insights” to guide future budget planning and promised improvements to transparency and engagement ahead of the 2026–27 budget process.
However, many residents remain unconvinced — arguing the low attendance, high cost and reliance on consultants demonstrate a disconnect between council and the community it serves.
