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
Strathbogie's direction is set by its Council Plan 2025–2029, which incorporates the Strathbogie Shire Community Vision 2035: 'We will create a thriving place to live, work, and explore – where history and Country are honoured, innovation is welcomed, our collective spirit makes us stronger, and our natural environment is sustained for future generations.' The plan also incorporates the council's Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan and Disability Action Plan.
The Council Plan has three strategic objectives: Connect — enhancing access for all residents, promoting healthy living, fostering connections and providing opportunities to participate in community life; Sustain — working with others for a sustainable environment, a thriving economy and resilient communities; and Deliver — quality services and infrastructure, stronger governance and improved, customer-focused experiences. The council reports progress to the community every six months. It also has an Advocacy Strategy 2025–2029 and, since March 2026, a Disaster Advocacy Strategy.
The 2026–27 budget, adopted on 16 June 2026 as year two of the Council Plan, raises the average rate per property by the 2.75% cap and forecasts an underlying operating surplus of $2.007 million. It funds a $13.18 million capital works program focused on renewing existing assets, including $4.02 million of road improvements and work on Chinamans Bridge ($2.60 million) and Kirwans Bridge ($1.00 million). The Mayor and CEO's introduction says it prioritises core services and infrastructure, and that recovery from the January 2026 Longwood fire is expected to take two to three years.
- Strathbogie Shire Council — Council Plan 2025–2029 (PDF) · 2025–2029
- Strathbogie Shire Council — Annual Budget Report 2026–27, adopted 16 June 2026 (PDF; introduction and executive summary) · 2026–27
- Strathbogie Shire Council — Plans, Policies, Strategies and Reports (Advocacy Strategy, Disaster Advocacy Strategy) · Sep 2026
Underway now
Longwood Berrys Lane bushfire recovery
Since January 2026; the budget plans for a two-to-three-year recoveryThe council opened a Bushfire Information and Relief Hub in Euroa after the January 2026 fire and runs recovery programs, including clean-up support, reduced gate fees for bushfire waste and a firewood program using timber from tree debris works, which it opened to all residents in September 2026. Rates instalments for the 451 properties in the fire-affected area were deferred in 2025–26 while properties were revalued.
Chinaman's Bridge demolition
Contract awarded June 2026; works due to start in July and finish by summerDemolition and removal of the historic timber bridge, which structural assessments found had deteriorated beyond repair, with identified heritage features preserved and the riverbank rehabilitated under a Heritage Victoria permit. The contract went to West Pacific Group; the council received $1.31 million (excluding GST) from the Council Flood Support Fund for the project.
Source: Strathbogie Shire Council — Contract awarded for demolition of Chinaman's Bridge (22 Jun 2026)
Urban Growth Strategy and Rural Residential and Land Use Strategy
Feedback on the final draft Urban Growth Strategy open until 30 October 2026; the rural strategy is due for review in the coming monthsTwo strategies to guide housing, township growth and land use across the shire, developed since 2024 with a deliberative Community Panel. The council says the final draft Urban Growth Strategy prioritises development on existing serviced land, refines township growth boundaries and identifies targeted growth opportunities including in Nagambie and Violet Town.
Source: Strathbogie Shire Council — Have your say: Revised Draft Urban Growth Strategy
Community Local Law 2026
Public exhibition closed 24 August 2026; to return to Council for adoptionAn update to the local law covering public safety, amenity and the use of public spaces. The council says the draft changes permit processes, event and footpath trading requirements, animal management provisions and camping controls in response to earlier feedback asking for clearer rules and less red tape.
Planned / committed
Euroa rail precinct land sale
Public notice given July 2026; submissions closed 19 August 2026The council proposes to sell two parcels of council land in Euroa — 946 m² on Railway Street and 1,412 m² on Scott Street — to Inland Rail at market value, for parking, public open space and a drainage basin serving the new vehicle underpass. The council says public access to the areas won't change.