What the council is working on
Recent deliveries, what's underway now, and what's planned next — drawn from the council's own plans, budgets and project pages. We report what the council has publicly said it's doing; every item links to its source.
The council's stated direction
The council's direction is set by the Banyule Community Vision 2041 and the Banyule Plan 2025–2029, which combines the Community Vision, the Council Plan and the Health and Wellbeing Plan. A Banyule Delivery Plan, reviewed each year, lists the initiatives and services the council will deliver.
The Banyule Plan has six priority themes: an inclusive, healthy and connected community; a sustainable environment; a well-built city; valued community assets and facilities; a thriving local economy; and trusted and responsive leadership. The council says the plan was shaped by a community engagement program and a 55-member Community ThinkTank chosen by random selection.
The Budget 2026–2030, adopted on 22 June 2026, plans $71.5 million of capital works in 2026–27 (including $6.3 million carried forward), with nearly 90% for renewing and upgrading existing assets. It also includes a $13.0 million initiatives program, of which $6.0 million is for the council's Business Transformation Program.
Underway now
New and renewed playgrounds
Draft concepts out for comment (Sep 2026); $1.3m in the 2026–27 budgetDraft playground concepts are open for comment for Warrawee Park (Bundoora), Dunvegan Parklands (Macleod), West Mayling Reserve (Watsonia), Mercedes Court Reserve (Rosanna) and Sylvan Reserve (Montmorency). The 2026–27 budget includes $1.3 million for playgrounds, including renewing six.
Roads, footpaths and drainage program
2026–27The 2026–27 budget lists $7.7 million for roads and streetscapes, $4.0 million for footpaths and pedestrian improvements and $3.8 million for drainage. In September 2026 the council said it had resurfaced 28 streets over winter and would spend $1.7 million resurfacing roads and $3 million replacing footpaths this financial year, and that it is trialling recycled asphalt in Haig Street, Heidelberg Heights.
Source: Banyule City Council — Looking after our roads and footpaths
Olympic Leisure Centre: new direction
Council report-back due December 2026In June 2025 the council endorsed closing the centre's ageing aquatic areas at the end of October 2025 and turning it into a hub for health, fitness, community and library services, with a 30-hour-a-week library from March 2026. It committed to 12 months of free or subsidised access to Ivanhoe Aquatic for existing aquatic users, and a feasibility study for a water play park in Heidelberg West. The council said it would report back on the impact of the closure in December 2026.
Source: Banyule City Council — Olympic Leisure Centre's new direction
Planned / committed
Separate glass recycling service
State mandate from July 2027 (as stated by the council); $1.0m in the 2026–27 budgetThe 2026–27 capital works program includes $1.0 million for a 'Glass Service Rollout'. At the same time, the council is part of a group of 38 councils asking the Victorian Government to delay the glass-only bin and expand the Container Deposit Scheme to wine and spirit bottles. The council hasn't published a start date for a glass service.
Source: Banyule City Council — Glass-only kerbside recycling
Ivanhoe Aquatic stage 2 redevelopment
Consultation on Shaping Banyule (Sep 2026)The council is asking for views on the next stage of the centre, including new gym, fitness, wellness and amenity spaces. Its 2026–2030 budget proposes additional borrowing in later years for the redevelopment, and the council is also seeking state funding to upgrade and electrify the centre's aquatic facilities.
Source: Shaping Banyule — Ivanhoe Aquatic stage 2 redevelopment