Critical projects dropped, secret initiatives added — and Councillors left in the dark.
Wyndham City Council has put its Draft Budget 2025/26 and long-term strategic plans on public exhibition — but concerns over transparency, late spending additions, and dropped community priorities are casting a shadow over the process.
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The documents, endorsed for public feedback at the 22 April Council meeting, propose a $165.1 million capital works program for the next financial year, including major investments in roads, open spaces, and community facilities. However, internal tensions among Councillors and newly revealed last-minute budget changes have sparked questions about governance and spending priorities.
Millions Added Without Proper Scrutiny
While the early budget process had been described as collaborative, concerns emerged when approximately $8.5 million in new spending for 2025/26 — and over $22 million across four years — was introduced late without the usual level of discussion, business cases, or officer reports.
New initiatives added to the budget include:
Community Safety Initiative – $372,000 next year, $1.94 million over four years.
Advocacy for State Roads – $500,000 for design work on State-managed roads, with another $2 million flagged in future budgets.
Wyndham North Events and Activations Program – $1 million over four years.
Wyndham Planning Reform Roadmap – $500,000.
Neighbourhood Transport Solutions – $1 million over three years.
Contingency Project Reserve – $2 million over four years.
Wyndham Active Revitalisation Program – $1.85 million per year for two years.
In raising concerns during the meeting, Cr. Peter Maynard said:
Cr. Larry Zhao also expressed concern by leaving the chamber before the vote, refusing to endorse or oppose the motion, highlighting growing unease inside Council.
Community Priorities Quietly Dropped
While millions in new programs were added, several long-standing community priorities were cut or scaled back:
The Dog Parks Policy and Strategy — missing entirely.
Public toilet upgrades — funding slashed by $3.25 million.
WYN-R greenhouse gas reduction projects — commitments reduced.
Public toilets were ranked the second-highest priority in Council’s most recent Community Satisfaction Survey, yet they now face significant funding cuts under the new budget.
Cr. Maynard also questioned whether the recently reduced borrowings — down by $30 million over four years — had come at the cost of other important infrastructure projects previously seen as essential.
Major Suburb Projects Identified
Although Council has not provided a full suburb-by-suburb breakdown, key investments listed in the draft plans include:
| Suburb | Project & Funding |
|---|---|
| Point Cook | Jamieson Way Masterplan Stage 2 ($6.0M) Dog park at City Bay Drive (part of $855K) |
| Tarneit | Wootten Rd Tennis Courts ($2.6M) Polly Parade Reserve ($4.5M) Leakes Rd Duplication ($8.2M) Doherty’s Road Duplication ($2.18M) |
| Truganina | Fortitude Drive Reserve works ($6.12M) Truganina Security Patrol ($372K) |
| Werribee | Soldiers Reserve Pavilion design ($500K) K Road reconstruction ($16.0M) Tarneit & Shaws Rd Intersection Upgrade ($9.6M) City Centre upgrades ($2.0M) |
| Hoppers Crossing | Hogans Road Reserve concept design ($250K) Rosslare Court Reserve upgrade (part of $1.4M project) |
| Williams Landing | Tennis Club lighting upgrade (part of $820K project) |
| Little River | Possy Newlands Reserve upgrade (part of $1.4M project) |
| Manor Lakes | Dog park at Hindmarsh Drive (part of $855K project) |
However, without a detailed spending breakdown per suburb, many residents are left questioning whether their local areas are receiving a fair share of the budget.
Why Residents Must Engage Now
Community advocates are urging residents to act before the budget is finalised, warning that once adopted, the plans will dictate what projects proceed — and what gets delayed or dropped — for years.
“This is the community’s only opportunity to challenge priorities, question spending, and demand better transparency,” one panel member said. “If you don’t speak now, you’ll live with the consequences later.”
Council’s public consultation period closes Tuesday 20 May.
Feedback can be submitted online at theloop.wyndham.vic.gov.au or in person at Pop-Up engagement sessions around Wyndham. Council will consider submissions before adopting the final budget at its June meeting.
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