Mayoral Matters – May 2026

Published on 03 June 2026

Council recently held Drop-In Sessions for the draft 2026/2027 Budget in all four towns, as is with most years, with varying degrees of participation. Our budget this year prioritises expenditure on our infrastructure assets (e.g.: maintenance and renewal of roads, footpaths, kerb & channel, buildings etc). The below graph highlights where the money is budgeted to be spent in 2026/2027.

I have been suggesting that funding is going to become a challenge, our budget is beginning to reflect what I have said over the last year. Speaking with CEO’s and Mayors in Melbourne last week I believe all Victorian Councils, Rural, Regional and Metropolitan are sharing the same burden just vary in levels. 

The Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Nick Reece spoke at the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State Council conference on Friday 29 May 2026 and said fairly-well the same as everyone else is saying. Most things seem to occur in cycles, presently we are at the very wrong stage of the cycle. Will things improve? I believe so it is just a matter of when. MAV State Council was very well attended and additionally Hindmarsh Shire Council had put forward a motion regarding a dedicated rural housing innovation fund that was considered and supported on the day.

Not much in the Federal budget that will be of any significant help for Regional and Rural Victoria.
As for the State Government SRL (Suburban Rail Loop) continues to consume much of the States Infrastructure budget, sorry for the pun, but I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. For the rest of the State, if there is, it will be the train coming.

Council is often asked why we can’t offer services that the larger councils can deliver, this is due to the vast difference between revenue, assets per head of population and size, including kilometres of roads. The below table compares Hindmarsh to Horsham, Ballarat, and the City of Port Phillip to help understand the small budget Hindmarsh operates within. 

In better news, at least it has been and is raining, with many in the farming sector suggesting it is one of the best starts to cropping in many years. Hopefully the end result when it comes to harvesting will be as good as the beginning. Fuel prices have dropped back from their earlier crazy highs, supply may be an issue at some stage, who knows.

Councillor Roger Aitken and I attended a meeting in St Arnaud at the invitation from the Federal Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster MP. A very lively encounter as many were quite vocal in their opposition to the VNI West, renewables and mining proposals. Whilst we don’t, at this stage at least, have these issues, we are right next door to Yarriambiack Shire Council and Horsham Rural City Council. It will also have a big impact on Buloke Shire Council and Northern Grampians Shire Council.

In more exciting news Cr Roger Aitken and I both attended the PedalPrix Human Powered Vehicle Event on the 23 May 2026 held at the Shell Power Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA. We primarily attended as a prelude to a proposed event/events to be held at Dimboola in the future. The event was very successful and drew very strong support from surrounding primary schools, secondary colleges and universities. It would be wonderful if we could have such a successful event also within our Shire in addition to the already highly successful Steampunk Festival that occurs on a bi-yearly basis. Let’s put Hindmarsh Shire on the map as much as possible.

Until next month, I hope everyone stays warm, the cooler weather has well and truly arrived in our area over the last few days. I’m looking forward to the 22 June 2026, when the days will begin to be hopefully warmer and slightly more daylight.

Ron Ismay
Mayor

Pictured: Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nick Reece, Mayor Ron Ismay (Hindmarsh Shire Council) and Mayor Kirsten Langford (Whitehorse City Council)