Community input invited on Revenue and Rating Plan
25th August 2026
Colac Otway Shire Council is inviting community feedback on a range of proposed changes to its Revenue and Rating Plan.
A Public Consultation Paper has been developed following a review of Council’s revenue and rating framework which examined Council’s current rating structure, service charges and revenue settings, and benchmarked them against comparable Victorian councils.
Mayor Jason Schram said Council was committed to ensuring its revenue and rating framework remained fair and financially sustainable for the future.
“Rates and charges play a critical role in funding the services, infrastructure and facilities our community relies on every day,” Cr Schram said.
“As part of the development of our Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-2029, Council committed to undertaking a more detailed review of our rating structure and service charges. This consultation process gives the community an opportunity to help shape the future direction of that framework.”
Officers and Councillors have conducted a series of workshops that identified several areas for community discussion, including:
- Potential changes to the Municipal Charge and rating differentials.
- The introduction of a Public Waste Charge to further recover the costs of waste-related services.
- Development of a formal Fees and Charges Policy to guide future pricing decisions across Council services.
The consultation paper outlines potential options and provides information on how different property types could be affected under each scenario.
Cr Schram encouraged residents, businesses, and property owners to review the information and share their views.
“These decisions affect different parts of our community in different ways, so it is important that we hear a range of perspectives before any final decisions are made,” he said.
“Community feedback will help inform any updates to the Revenue and Rating Plan and ensure Council understands the impacts and priorities of our residents and ratepayers.”
Following the exhibition period, all submissions will be considered by Council. Submitters will also have the opportunity to speak to their submission, either in person or through a nominated representative, at a Submissions Committee meeting before Council considers the final Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-2029.
Community members can view the consultation paper and make a submission via Council’s website or by contacting Council’s Customer Service team.
Submissions close on 7 October 2026.
Council Enquiries
(03) 5232 9400