Footpaths, parks and geese protections were some of the 90 funding requests made to Macedon Ranges council for its upcoming budget.
On Wednesday 4 February, council held a submitters delegated committee meeting to hear from 30 residents, community group leaders and sports committees about their ideas for the 2026-27 budget.
Roads and footpaths was the most common request in the submissions.
Residents wrote in to request for footpaths in Tylden, the full funding and completion of the Woodend-Riddells Creek Shared Trail, a speed reduction of Grahams Road in Lancefield, and a bike and walking trail between Gisborne and Bullengarook.
Other budget submissions from community members and groups requested funding for either the relocation, expansion or redevelopment of the Kyneton Library, more funding contributions from council towards Romsey Neighbourhood House, better signage and protection in Riddells Creek to protect the geese population, and the redevelopment of the Riddells Creek Skate Park.
Ravi Sud from Gisborne Tennis Club addressed the meeting about the club’s request for the refurbishment of the tennis courts, and said half of the courts were rated in poor condition in a report conducted by Tennis Australia. He said people only wanted to play on good courts, and the club had seen a reduction in members.
Councillors heard from two members of U3A Kyneton, including president John Taubman. His submission requested funding to fix the lift at the Kyneton Aquatic Centre which he said had been broken for 18 months, preventing the group’s usage for its twice-weekly table tennis sessions. Another community member also requested for this to be fixed.
Another committee member from U3A Kyneton requested funding for urgent and appropriate building maintenance of the Red Brick Hall in Kyneton, the heritage-listed building the group uses.
Multiple members of Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group also spoke at the meeting, with William McDougall from the Transport Action Group arm proposing that council fund the development of an integrated transport strategy for the shire.
Council will review all submissions, with another round of consultation of the draft budget due in April or May before its adoption in June.
