Have your say on fees and charges

Published on 01 May 2026

Loddon Shire residents are invited to have their say on Council’s fees and charges for the 2026-27 financial year.

The proposed fees and charges are set each year in conjunction with the Budget process.

They are intended to support the sustainable delivery of services while balancing affordability and equity for the community.

Most existing fees have been indexed, which means they will increase by at least 3 per cent. Some fees are set by external authorities and are not determined by Council.

Building fees have been benchmarked against comparable councils, and the proposed increases reflect the outcomes of this review.

Several fees within animal management and local laws are proposed to be restructured and will also increase by more than 3 per cent.

These adjustments ensure associated costs, including the cost of service delivery, are appropriately recovered from users and not subsidised by ratepayers.

Residential accommodation charges are subject to a staged increase over three years to align with market rates. A $15 increase has been applied in year one with the expectation that a similar increase will be applied in both year two and year three.

Swimming pool fees are proposed to remain at 2025/26 levels, except for private hire fees, which include a minimum 3 per cent increase.

Landfill and transfer station fees and charges are largely proposed to remain unchanged – these fees typically being adjusted through periodic rather than annual increases, except for four fees within the domestic waste category.

Three new fees are also proposed – a membership fee for the Loddon Tourism Network and two business registration fees for food premises.

Five fees are proposed to be discontinued or restructured under a new fee model with four relating to the impoundment of livestock and one relating to Loddon Valley tourism.

Community Asset Committee fees are proposed to remain unchanged from the 2025/26 rates, with any future fee adjustments to be considered upon advice from Community Asset Committee Annual General Meetings.

While most fees will, when the Schedule is adopted, take place from 1 July 2026, proposed changes for residential accommodation can only be implemented from the anniversary date of their tenancy agreement in accordance with the relevant legislation. Tenants will be notified as soon as practicable following Council’s approval.

Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub said he encouraged residents to have their say on the draft Fees and Charges Schedule.

“These are the everyday fees we charge for provision of Council services and it is important residents and ratepayers understand how much these are, how much they may increase, and what the reasoning is,” he said.

“We look forward to taking that feedback on board as we then consider the final Schedule.”

The draft Fees and Charges Schedule is available on the Council website and the public is invited to have its say on the upcoming 2026/27 Budget via the Connect@Loddon platform, with feedback closing on Friday, 15 May.

Meanwhile, 29 responses were received from the community in the Budget Engagement Survey.

“We thank the community for their submissions and these will now be considered in the preparation of the draft Budget,” Cr Straub said.