The Council Plan 2021-25 outlines how we will achieve our Long-Term Community Vision 2031, to –become a more connected, bold and resilient community – while also focusing on how we will work with our community, key stakeholders, community organisations, surrounding municipalities and other levels of government. 

The Council Plan was developed based on the feedback from Council’s largest ever engagement program — Shape Your City. This engagement program identified five key themes, which our community stated as their priorities for the future of our city. These key themes shaped the strategic objectives and priorities set out in the Council Plan. 

The Draft Council Plan 2021-25 – Year 4 Review has seen minor wording changes made to the original plan adopted in 2022. The year four review of the strategic objectives and strategies is undertaken to make sure they are still relevant and will continue to achieve the Council Vision.  

Sharing your views and experiences can provide Council with new ideas or information or a new perspective. So, even if your comments are not word-for-word in the final documents, having your say will ensure that we are informed about how you would like to improve your community life. This means that we can better advocate on your behalf, if we need to, or better consider your needs, now and in the future to improve living in the City of Casey.

In 2020/21 and 2022/23, Council undertook its largest community engagement program — Shape Your City. Through this engagement, we heard from more than 10,500 community members and their feedback informed the Long-Term Community Vision, as well as the Council Plan and the 10-year Financial Plan.

We checked in with the community in 2022/23 to better understand what services are of priority. We did this through a range of face-to-face engagement pop-ups and workshops across Casey, as well as an online survey and interactive participatory budgeting tool. This range of engagement techniques ensured Casey’s diverse community were represented.

Five key themes were identified:

• The importance of access to open spaces and recreation
• Looking after our environment
• Access to transport and infrastructure
• Community connectedness
• Maintaining public places — especially parks and reserves.

The Vision document is a legal requirement under the Local Government Act 2020, Section 89

The Local Government Act 2020 requires all Victorian councils to develop, adopt and keep in force a Financial Plan. Section 91(2) of the Act states that the scope of a Financial Plan is a period of at least the next 10 financial years.

The 10-year Financial Plan is a key financial planning document that contains a series of financial strategies and accompanying performance indicators that Council considers when making significant strategic decisions about resource allocation. The directions of the Financial Plan are informed by the Council Plan and the medium to long term service strategies adopted by Council.

 The draft Budget Report includes the Annual Budget and outlines the services and initiatives that Council will undertake in the 2024/25 financial year. The Budget Report includes detailed information about the rates and charges to be levied, the capital works program to be undertaken, where Council allocates its financial resources and other financial information for the 2024/25 financial year.

The other key financial document is the Schedule of Fees and Charges to apply in 2024/25. The Schedule of Fees and Charges is a comprehensive document outlining the fees and charges associated with the various services Council provides. 

In 2024/25, our Capital Works Project focuses on renewing and maintaining our existing assets while we carefully plan for new infrastructure that supports our growing community. The Capital Works Program includes $15.9 million towards road projects, $47.03 million towards recreational, leisure and community facilities, $8.9 million towards parks, open space and streetscapes and $4.6 million to improve footpaths and cycleways. 

Rates are used to fund Council’s investment in community infrastructure such as maintaining, renewing and building new community and family centres, and sports and recreation facilities, maintaining roads and parks, as well as to support the delivery of many important community services.

The draft Budget features an operating budget of $567.4 million to ensure Council continues to provide vital services to more than 400,000 residents and a $107.3 million capital works program, focuses on renewing and maintaining our existing assets while we carefully plan for new infrastructure that supports the growing community.

In 2024/25, the average annual general rates increase will be 2.75 per cent, which is in line with the State Government set rate cap.

Rate increases are based on the outcome of annual property valuations. All rateable properties in Victoria are required to be revaluated annually on 1 January by State Government-appointed contractors. Valuations are independently certified by the Valuer General.

Revaluation of your property does not increase the total amount of rate revenue collected by Council. Rather it determines the proportion of rates you need to pay relative to other property owners. The 2.75 per cent rate cap applies to the overall amount of money that Council is receiving from rates.

If your property’s value grew by more than the average, you will experience an increase to your general rates higher than the 2.75 per cent rate cap. Properties that grew in value, but remained lower than the average (or decreased in value) will experience an increase lower than 2.75 per cent rate cap. 

We appreciate that this is a very challenging time and many people in our community are experiencing hardship. Where possible, Council is providing flexibility to affected customers and encourages anyone unable to meet their rate payment by the due dates to contact Council as soon as possible to make arrangements and discuss potential relief options.

Is Casey opting to borrow money as part of the Draft 2024/25 Budget?

The City of Casey will not take on any new borrowings throughout the 2024/25 financial year and will be consolidating existing loans where possible.

All Victorian Councils are required to collect this levy on behalf of the Victorian Government and must pass the full amount on to the State Revenue Office. The Fire Services Property Levy will continue to appear as a separate charge on your Council rates notice. This replaces the fire services contributions which residents and businesses previously made through their insurance premiums on their properties.

All residents are invited to view the Draft Council Plan 2021-25 – Year 4 Review, Draft Annual Action Plan 2024/25, Draft Budget Report (Draft Budget 2024/25, Draft Capital Works Program 2024/25), Draft 2024/25 – 2033/34 Financial Plan and Draft Schedule of Fees and Charges 2024/25 and make a submission up until 5.00 pm on Wednesday 8 May 2024.    

The documents can be viewed in the document library on this page.

Submissions can be made online via the submission form on Casey Conversations. A submission is a written statement that explains your views about a topic or proposal and how you may be affected if the draft Budget goes ahead. There are a few ways you can make a submission.

Alternatively, ratepayers can send written submissions addressed to the CEO via email to caseycc@casey.vic.gov.au or mailed to PO Box 1000, Narre Warren, 3805.

All feedback will be collated by officers and the final report will consider all the views shared, as well as key factors including funding, legal criteria, existing commitments and priorities.

Following the exhibition phase, all submissions will be heard at a Special Council Meeting on Tuesday 28 May.

Please note: all submissions made by members of the public will be printed in Council documents and made available to the community. 

All written submissions will be considered prior to Council adopting the budget at its Council Meeting on 18 June 2024.