The council in this proposed budget is focusing on revamping towns. 

$1.4 million will be spent on revitalising Main Street Stawell. 

The NGSC earlier this year brought in a consultant, called the Retail Doctor, to eventually make recommendations on how to revitalise the Main Street, in an aim to boost the economy in Stawell. 

The North Park Precinct in Stawell will also be renewed with a state government grant to renew the clubroom and netball courts. 

The council has also set aside $300,000 to upgrade the St Arnaud Civic Precinct. 

The upgrade will include renewing the Town Hall kitchen, developing the Market Square and works the the Queen Mary Gardens. 

$1.7 million will go to the implementation of the Halls Gap ‘master plan’, including improvements to the Stoney Creek boardwalk. 

The council will also be spending money on infrastructure.

They will be spending over $12 million on roads, emergency works, bridges, footpaths, drainage and parks and streetscapes, which includes parts of town planning. 

Another focus for the council will include animal management processes, the efficiency of animal shelters, local law processes and fee payment options. 

Animal management processes are part of the council’s community protection section. 

The proposed budget shows the cost of recycling will increase by $34 a year. 

The NGSC in the proposed budget are also planning on spending money on health initiatives, among a raft of other initiatives. 

In order to do these initiatives the council will need to obtain revenue. 

The council estimates it will receive $35.1 million in revenue from the proposed budget, including $17.4 million in rates and charges revenue. 

Rates for farm land will increase in the proposed budget, in comparison to the 2017/18 budget. 

The proposed budget also aims to reduce the council’s deficit to $2,617,400 from $2,940,200, repaying a total of $322,900 in loans.