News

Engagement report for Annual Budget 2025-2026

22 July 2025

Frankston City Council developed our Annual Budget 2025-2026 using the following community engagement processes

Submissions phase

Submissions on funding ideas were invited from community and stakeholders between January-February 2025.

The Local Government Act 2020 does not require councils to undertake a formal submissions process to provide the opportunity for persons to make submissions on a proposed Budget and Council Plan initiatives. However, in line with Council’s commitment to our community, Council undertook a public submissions process as part of its engagement approach.

The submissions phase built on engagement data collected in 2024, with more than 350 community groups contacted for feedback and an online survey on Engage Frankston.

  • Council sent letters to stakeholders (more than 350 groups including local clubs, groups and organisations) in December 2024 and January 2025 informing them of the engagement and encouraging submissions.
  • The broader community was also invited to comment and provide submissions, with the engagement promoted via Council’s communications channels, including social media, newsletters and websites.
  • Submissions invited via email to integratedplanning@frankston.vic.gov.au and via online form at engage.frankston.vic.gov.au/budget-2025
  • The Annual Budget 2025‑2026 Engage Frankston page received 647 visits.
  • A total of 53 submissions were received:
    • 46 submissions via Engage Frankston
    • 7 submissions via email.
  • 3 questions were received via Engage Frankston.

The majority of submissions (38%) were made by an individual, with 26% made by a club and 28% by another type of organisation.

Submissions can be categorised into the following 10 categories relating to Council services:


  • Multiple workshops were held with internal stakeholders to consider the submissions, including staff workshops and Service Planning meetings.
  • Council considered all 53 written submissions at its public meeting on 24 February 2025. 19 submitters requested to speak at the Council meeting.
  • Submissions requiring further deliberation were presented and workshopped with our new team of Councillors at a planning day held on the 1 March 2025.
  • On 23 June 2025, at its public meeting, Council made its final decisions on what was included in the Annual Budget 2025-2026.
  • Council acknowledged the 53 submitters, who have been notified individually on decisions relating to their submission.
  • Council noted that the submission process had directly shaped the final Annual Budget 2025-2026, and reinforced the community’s requests and need for greater support during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
  • In adopting the Annual Budget 2025-2026 Council highlighted the $1.7 million Local Support Package, and a range of key community initiatives designed to support individuals and community groups facing the ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
  • Of the 53 community submissions received, 28 were able to be directly funded or included in related initiatives in Annual Budget 2025-2026. The below table outlines examples of how Council has funded initiatives that relate to submissions.

Category

Budgeted amount

Initiative

Community Safety

$10,000

Support for Frankston Neighbourhood Watch

Community Safety

$157,000

Ongoing expansion of the Rapid Response program outside of the CBD area from November 2025

Community Safety

$5,000

In support for Victoria Police with the provision of bikes for city patrols

Community development

$40,000

To expand the Community Connectors program into Station Street to provide support to traders and community members.

Community development

$50,000

Support for Peninsula Community Legal Centre to deliver a school lawyer program in Frankston to support students overcome the barriers in accessing legal services, improve understanding of their rights and responsibilities and improve students’ health, wellbeing and engagement at school.

Community development

$210,000

Funding for 21 relief organisations and support agencies

Biodiversity and open space

$18,000

For an additional 9,000 trees to schools to boost the existing 3,000 trees in the current school planting program

Biodiversity and open space

$19,000

for 1,400 trees available for residents from Council’s nursery via vouchers for ratepayers

Biodiversity and open space

$10,000

For updating of Council’s tree register at the 2025-26 Mid-Year Budget Review

Amenity

$10,000

Graffiti Prevention program bounty trial and supply of anti-graffiti kits

Financial management

Average Rate revenue increases from residential and commercial ratepayers below the 3% state cap

Financial management

$51,048

Cost allocated to a blanket twelve-month pet registration fee freeze

Sport and recreation

$30,000

In funding for a concept plan and extension to the Frankston and Peninsula Lapidary Club

Sport and recreation

$100,000

To support delivery of cricket nets at the Carrum Downs Reserve

Sport and recreation

$30,000

To upgrade irrigation at Overport Park Tennis Club

Sport and recreation

$30,000

Allocated to the Langwarrin Men’s Shed, as seed funding for concept plans and due diligence.

Economic development

$150,000

Support for the Frankston Business Collective in 2025-2026

  • In addition, items that have been noted for inclusion in the 2026/27 Budget were:
    • Shared user path for Skye Road.
    • Additional pathways connecting Nursery Avenue to Jubilee Park.
    • An allocation to help fund installation of lighting at the Long Island Tennis Club.

Feedback on draft Plans

Feedback on the draft Council and Wellbeing Plan and Revenue and Rating Plan was invited in April-May 2025.

Council received 46 responses from our community in our engagement on the following Plans which have a strong connection to our Annual Budget 2025-2026. These responses also helped inform our final Annual Budget 2025-2026.

To invite feedback on our draft Council and Wellbeing Plan 2025-2029:

  • We explained how we plan to deliver the Strategic Outcomes over the next four years, with four-year objectives and actions we're prioritising for Year 1 delivery.
  • We highlighted actions that we know are important to our community from our Stage 1 and 2 engagements, particularly those our community wanted Council to 'focus more on’.
  • We invited review and feedback on all planned actions in our draft Council and Wellbeing Plan 2025-2029 and Year 1 Action Plan. We asked if it meets our community's expectations, based on your needs and aspirations identified in earlier engagement stages.

To invite feedback on our draft Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-2029:

  • We explained the purpose of the Plan, and our proposal to change the differential rate that applies to vacant land in the FMAC area and on Nepean Highway as to way to support delivery of the Council and Wellbeing Plan and to discourage land banking and encourage development.
  • We invited review and feedback on the proposed new 'differential rate’ and any other elements of the draft Plan.

Learn more about the engagement process and outcomes at engage.frankston.vic.gov.au/council-and-wellbeing-plan

Community Panel deliberation

There is a strong connection between Council’s Long-Term Financial Plan and Councils Annual Budget 2025-2026, particularly the financial strategy and decision-making applied by Council when developing its annual budgets.

In November 2024, our deliberative Community Panel considered our proposal to include criteria for assessing budget submissions in our Financial Plan. The Panel’s critical analysis and feedback on this proposal is summarised at engage.frankston.vic.gov.au/your-vision-frankston-city/financial-plan-deliberation-2024.

Council trialed the inclusion of aspects of these criteria in considering the submissions received in January-February 2025 for our Annual Budget. This assisted Council to determine which of the 53 submissions were approved as final budgeted items in our Annual Budget 2025-2026 (see above table for examples of which items were approved).

The updated draft Financial Plan is being presented to Council for adoption in August 2025. Follow this page to continue to receive updates: engage.frankston.vic.gov.au/your-vision-frankston-city.

Broad community engagement in 2024

Engagement on the Your Vision for Frankston City project included community pop ups, surveys, stakeholder meetings and deliberative engagement with a Community Panel. Council engaged with approximately 1400 community members throughout this process.

This engagement an opportunity for community to share their aspirations and needs, including shaping Council’s priorities to help us develop a clear vision and plan for the next four years, and more immediately in the Annual Budget 2025-2026.

You told us that safety, support for vulnerable people, greener open spaces, vibrant public areas, and a better-connected city matter most.

These priorities are now reflected in our Annual Budget 225-2026 and embedded in our long-term planning.

We also heard your concerns about the rising cost of living.

  • In response, the Annual Budget 2025-2026 includes a new $1.7 million Local Support Package, with practical relief measures—from grants for local aid organisations to a temporary pause on select Council fees and charges.
  • This package has been made possible through a deliberate shift in focus.
  • By prioritising smarter spending, efficiencies and hard financial decisions, we’ve redirected funds from large-scale capital works to smaller, high-impact projects—such as upgraded play spaces and revitalised open areas that boost wellbeing for more residents.
  • We're still building for the future, but we’re doing so with sharper alignment to what our community needs today.

More detail is available at engage.frankston.vic.gov.au/your-vision-frankston-city.