AFTER a 24 hour delay due to a lack of councillors in attendance at a scheduled meeting, Kingston Council’s annual budget for the 2026/2027 financial year has been approved.
A special meeting of council was called for 26 May to consider the budget, after the scheduled meeting the day prior was called off after three hours due to a lack of quorum. Multiple councillors attending the 25 May meeting in person and via Zoom exited before the budget had been considered. This meant that the meeting could not continue, as a majority of councillors were no longer present.
Councillors returned on 26 May and passed the budget. Cr Tony Athanasopoulos abstained from the vote, Cr Hadi Saab was absent, and the remaining councillors voted to approve it.
The revised budget approved last week features a surplus of $5.8 million. That figure is a decrease from the draft budget sent out for consultation; council officers wrote that “the change is primarily from current expectations around the geopolitical impacts on the cost of fuel affecting council services.”
The budget for the next financial year raises rates by an average of 2.75 percent, the maximum allowed under the state government’s rate capping system. An infrastructure budget of $74.7 million was approved.
A message from the mayor Cr Georgina Oxley in the approved budget read that the infrastructure budget “includes major overhauls of Namatjira Park in Clayton South and Walter Galt Reserve in Parkdale, and progress on the masterplan for Cheltenham’s Le Page Park. We are also adding a new soccer pitch at Kingston Heath Reserve and upgrading the Bonbeach Basketball Stadium. Of course, we are really excited to open our new Mordi Aquatic Centre too.
“Our kids will soon be enjoying some new playspaces at Follet Road Reserve, Gartside Reserve, Balcombe Road Reserve and Heights Park, among others, as well.”
A late change to the budget will see Kingston Council match an $88,000 grant from the Suburban Rail Loop to the Heatherton Football & Netball Club. The money is expected to be used for an upgrade to the club’s kitchen and bar area.
Kingston Council has also adopted its Long-Term Financial Plan, and Revenue and Rating Plan. Cr Oxley said “we’ve listened carefully to our community throughout this process, and the adopted budget reflects the priorities people told us matter most, including investment in open spaces, sporting facilities, shopping precincts and infrastructure that supports our growing city.”
The budget features a “cost of living support package”, with a rates hardship assistance rebate.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 3 June 2026