Public feedback saw some slight changes in funding allocation for the Upper Yarra after the Yarra Ranges Council’s 2025-26 budget was finalised at the 10 June council meeting.
These amendments were new funding toward advanced design for the Wesburn dog fence and Warburton Bowling Club bowling green assessments, while $200,000 for the Warburton Waterworld carpark extension was reallocated to a generic carpark budget.
Other than those amendments the finalised budget remains largely unchanged from its draft iteration – here’s what’s included for the Upper Yarra in the finalised 2025-26 budget.
In Warburton:
The finalised budget made no mention of the $200,000 for the Warburton Waterworld carpark extension initially included in the draft budget, but $200,000 towards a new budget item titled Car Park Rehabilitation was included.
“Any specific projects not listed are typically allocated from bulk budget allocations,” a council spokesperson said when asked about the missing funds for the Warburton Waterworld carpark extension.
Council also confirmed $75,000 was allocated to deliver the Wesburn Dog Fence with funding also allocated to scope the bowling greens at Warburton Bowling Club.
“We will be communicating to the Club about next steps,” a council spokesperson said.
The budget has confirmed the $2.5 million towards the Warburton Bike Park (previously the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination) originally flagged in the draft budget, the funding of which is split between borrowings and Federal and State government grants.
72 per cent of the Warburton Bike Park funds are sourced from borrowings and the remaining 28 per cent from Federal and State government grants.
Not all councillors were on board with the amount of funding funnelled into the Warburton Bike Park as Cr Len Cox said the set of trails would largely serve visitors and not residents of the Yarra Ranges.
“We’ve spent a lot of money on, well, one particular bike track up around the Warburton Way, and I’m sorry about this, Mayor, but we’ve spent a lot of money on it.”
“Much of the use of it will be taken up by people living outside of the municipality,” Cr Cox said.
But Yarra Ranges Council mayor Jim Child said projects such as the Warburton Bike Park will help stimulate the local economy.
“This year’s budget also sees the completion of the Ridgewalk, Nurruk Barring Arts Trail in the Dandenongs and stage one of the Warburton Bike Park both of which will be used to provide a much needed boost to local businesses,” Cr Child said.
$2.1 million slotted for the Ngurrak barring / RidgeWalk was also consolidated in the finalised budget and is solely funded by grants.
The Yarra Valley Trail Stage 1 will cost $2 million, with council sourcing 41 per cent through grants and 59 per cent through borrowings.
The Yarra Valley Trail Stage 2A will cost $1.95 million but will be fully funded through grants, putting the total cost for the Yarra Valley Trail at $3.95 million.
Renewal for an existing section of the Warburton Rail Trail will cost $150,000.
Yarra Ranges Council chief financial officer Liam Routledge said the revenue generated by the Warburton Visitor Paid Parking Pilot was predicted to be around $1.5 million, which would help generate revenue while ensuring tourism was kept at a sustainable level in Warburton.
The Warburton Swing Bridge was allocated $90,000.
In Wandin North:
There was $175,235 confirmed to rehabilitate five existing footpaths, which includes Keith Court, Galera Court, Sirocco Court, Farrar Way and Mayo Court.
Wandin North’s PJ Mould Community Park was confirmed to receive $100,000 to fund its second stage of construction, with the first stage predicted to be completed in mid August 2025.
In Seville:
Funding for Seville remains unchanged since the draft budget.
The installation of easement draining on Lanning Crescent will cost $100,000, which will prevent flooding in heavy rainfall events.
$3.8 million will go towards redeveloping the Seville Recreation Reserve Community pavilion.
“Access to quality community facilities is important to our residents so I’m pleased to see existing progress and exciting progress on several priority projects including funds to complete the much needed redevelopment of the Seville Recreation Reserve and Community Pavilion,” Cr Child said.
Existing footpaths will be rehabilitated on Ashley Court, Belair Close and Ducol Court at a cost of $96,559.
In Yarra Junction: $2 million will go towards the Yarra Valley Trail, Stage 1 – this includes over 40km of trail linking Lilydale, Yarra Glen, Healesville and joins into the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail.
Peppercorn Place’s existing footpath will be rehabilitated at a cost of $32,190.
The finalised 2025-26 budget was adopted with seven councillors voting for the motion and two against.
