Council & Politics
12 July, 2026
Councils unite for improved funding model
COUNCILS from around Australia including Pyrenees Shire have taken the fight for more sustainable funding to Canberra. Councils used their recent National General Assembly in Canberra to stress the importance of funding from the Commonwealth and how it is essential for councils to operate and deliver services.
Financial Assistance Grants are provided directly from the Commonwealth to local councils and in the case of Pyrenees Shire makes up around 25% of total revenue.
The assembly, which was attended by Mayor Damian Ferrari and Deputy Mayor Rebecca Wardlaw, was told the total pool of funding is inadequate and does not enable councils to meet the significant asset renewal demands for roads, bridges, pools, and other community facilities.
A State of the Assets Report tabled at the assembly showed a significant financial gap for Councils’ capacity to renew and replace ageing assets, like swimming pools, without additional direct untied funding.
Pyrenees Shire has three swimming pools in Avoca, Beaufort and Landsborough, all reaching the end of their life.
In the recent council budget, up to $250,000 will be spend replacing the lining of the Beaufort pool, however it is only expected to be a short term fix for the 60+ year old pool.
The Royal Life Saving Society claims billions of dollars is needed from the Commonwealth to replace up to 500 ageing pools across Australia.
They say public swimming pools are essential national infrastructure supported by 421 million visits every year.
Pyrenees Shire Council’s 10-Year Financial Plan shows that a significant capital investment in major infrastructure upgrades beyond the current program can only be achieved through additional direct government funding or borrowings.
In an address to the assembly, Local Government Minister Catherine King told the assembly the government is committed to maintaining current financial assistance grant funding levels.
However, there was no commitment to increase the funding to levels needed to meet the long-term infrastructure gap.
Council says it acknowledges the Victorian Government currently provides sport and recreation funding programs, and council does access these where appropriate. However, these programs require council co-contributions and significant expectations around planning and design parameters that often result in extra expense.
For example, the Waubra Recreation Reserve Master Plan, developed at Council’s cost, was a Victorian Government requirement for any infrastructure funding.
Council then successfully applied for a $40,000 funding application for detailed planning and design of the netball change facilities and netball courts, with a council co-contribution of approximately $60,000 needed to meet the funding body’s expectations.
CEO Jim Nolan said this level of planning is necessary to be eligible then to make application for infrastructure funding which also requires a council co-contribution.
“Council’s capacity to meet co-contribution is also limited when competing for funding against larger councils, further highlighting the need for additional support from the Commonwealth.”