The community has urged Mildura Rural City Council to focus on what matters most, use what it already has more wisely and make disciplined financial decisions that keep our region strong for the long term.
The voices of more than 250 residents, who took part in surveys, pop‑ups in Ouyen, Mildura and Merbein and a dedicated workshop, have helped shape the development of Council’s new Financial Sustainability Strategy.
The Strategy is a 10‑year roadmap that sets out how Council will responsibly manage its money, assets and resources so it can remain financially sustainable while still delivering on the community’s long‑term goals and aspirations.
It provides clear principles and objectives to guide every major financial decision – from income and expenditure to investment and service planning.
Mildura Mayor Ali Cupper said it was crucial to get the community’s direct feedback and insights as the foundation for the strategy, ensuring their priorities are at the heart of the decisions ahead.
“People understand the reality we’re facing – rising costs, growing expectations, and more responsibilities being pushed onto local councils by other forms of government. They told us clearly that we can’t keep doing everything the way we always have,” Cr Cupper said.
“Our community asked us to do less, but do it better. The message was clear. They want us to focus on the essentials, make smarter choices, and ensure every dollar is working as hard as it can.”
A key focus to emerge from the community’s feedback was for Council to make smarter use of what it already has – shifting toward multi-use facilities, reducing duplication so that every asset delivers strong value to the community.
Residents also emphasised the need for cultural change – a shift toward clearer priorities and a willingness to rethink services that no longer align with what the community can afford.
“This engagement wasn’t just a consultation – it was a conversation about our future. People showed real care for our region and a genuine desire to help us make the tough decisions ahead, so it is great that their voices have been heard and captured in this strategy,” Cr Cupper said.
Across all engagement activities, residents consistently called for Council to prioritise:
- Affordability, ensuring decisions don’t place unnecessary pressure on households
- Essential services, especially roads, waste, public safety and core community supports
- Innovation over outsourcing, with smarter, more efficient ways of working
- Better use of existing assets, including more multi‑use facilities and less duplication
- Clearer decision‑making, faster processes and stronger accountability
- Diversified income, reducing reliance on rates alone
- Long‑term sustainability, not short‑term fixes.
“I want to thank every participant for their honesty and insight. This has been community engagement at its best – people leaning in, helping shape the solutions, and showing real care for our region’s future,” Cr Cupper said.
Council will now use this feedback to finish development of the Financial Sustainability Strategy.
