By Mikayla van Loon
Drainage, road rehabilitation and footpath construction are the highlights for the urban area in the Yarra Ranges Council’s proposed budget for 2025-26.
This matched much of the feedback provided to the council in a pre-budget drafting engagement process, where it was determined that roads and traffic, parks and open space, and community facilities were the top priorities in infrastructure.
New drainage works and improvement projects will total $3.6 million this year, with Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Montrose and Mount Evelyn all cited for funding.
These include Chapel Street Lilydale ($386,000), Morrison Reserve Mount Evelyn ($300,000), Stuart Reserve Lilydale to reduce flooding at Wilson Lane ($300,000), design of Lilydale Tennis Court Upgrade ($80,000), three stage design of Edinburgh Road Lilydale ($50,000), 65 Kerr Crescent Montrose ($140,000), Cobden Crescent Lilydale ($400,000) and 26A Wandana Crescent Mooroolbark ($40,000).
A forecasted value of $50,000 has been budgeted for drainage renewal works on Summit Road Lilydale in the 2026-27 year.
Kingswood Drive Chirnside Park ($50,000), Summit Road Lilydale ($236,000) and Windsor Park Rise Mooroolbark ($215,000) will all see new footpaths, while rehabilitation works have been proposed for Edward Road Chirnside Park, Glen Innes Close Wonga Park, and MacGregor Court, Everton Road, Ellen Road and Irvine Street in Mount Evelyn.
Liverpool Road Kilsyth and Richards Road Montrose have been flagged for new footpath construction in the 2026-27 year.
Budgeting for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Edward Road and Paynes Road, Chirnside Park has seen $737,000 put towards the project this year.
This is in addition to $975,000 for a road renewal project along Edward Road, between Switchback Road and Paynes Road. A further $2.2 million has been forecasted for renewal works between Paynes Road and 415 Edward Road in 2026-27.
$1.2 million has also been cited for road renewal along Cambridge Road Mooroolbark.
Playspaces and reserves also received attention in this year’s capital expenditure program.
Bimbadeen Reserve, Kemp Reserve and Mount Evelyn Recreation Reserve have each been budgeted $258,000 for playspace improvements.
Replacement of the existing fence at Mount Evelyn Recreation Reserve’s sports facilities was funded $75,000.
The commencement of masterplan works at McDermott Avenue Reserve has seen $350,000 allocated this year, with a further $300,000 for next financial year, for open space improvements.
Site improvement works will also continue at 150 Cambridge Road with $300,000 allocated for 2025-26.
The Lillydale Lake masterplan will also get underway, supported by a State Government grant, and funds from the council’s public open space fund, with an equal value of $1,076,400 proposed for the next two financial years.
The pre-draft budget community consultation process did see the most engagement from the urban area, with 91 responses received.
Within this, there was heightened commentary, as summarised by the council, around pools and aquatic centres.
“Pools and Aquatic Centres received 53 comments from a total of 364. 25 people specifically mentioned Kilsyth pool. 13 people referred to other aquatic centres including Monbulk and Lilydale pools,” the engagement report states.
“38 people, out of the total 172 individual contributors mentioned pools and/or aquatic facilities.”
The only funds put towards pools and aquatic centres this year, however, was $1.2 million for minor works and a forecasted amount of $595,000 for electrification works at Monbulk Aquatic Centre.
Councillors now put the draft budget to the community for consultation and feedback.
“Now it’s open for the public. Really when it’s all said and done, it’s the public’s budget. The public has to pay for it, and the public has a right to give a comment to us on whether it’s good or whether it’s not so good,” Cr Len Cox said.
“So it’s going to be out to the public to look at it, anybody and everybody has the right to then communicate with the council.”
