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
Wangaratta's direction is set by its Community Vision 2045 and the Council Plan 2025–2029. The council says more than 2,000 people contributed to both, with more than 3,200 ideas for the Council Plan, through engagement that began in November 2024. The Vision's headline is: 'The Rural City of Wangaratta is a place for everyone.'
The Council Plan has four themes — Community Wellbeing, Natural Environment, Economy and Tourism, and Infrastructure and Place — supported by three guiding principles: financial sustainability, people, and communication and engagement. It includes the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan. In September 2026 the council reported that all first-year actions were on track.
The 2026–27 budget, adopted in May 2026, raises the average general rate by the 2.75% cap, raises waste charges by 6%, and funds a $22.27 million capital works program with no new borrowings. It forecasts an adjusted underlying deficit of $3.56 million and a $422,000 increase in cash. The council says it cut operating costs by more than $2.8 million: the 2027 Outdoor Ball is removed, community, tourism and event grants fall from $245,000 to $121,000, and spending on contractors, marketing and strategy development is reduced. Named projects include the Wangaratta netball facility upgrade ($3.05 million), the Wangaratta Flood Mitigation Strategy and Design ($1.57 million), the Green Street road upgrade ($1.16 million) and Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre power efficiency upgrades ($1.06 million).
- Rural City of Wangaratta — Council Plan 2025-29 · Sep 2026
- Rural City of Wangaratta — Our Community Vision 2045 · Sep 2026
- Rural City of Wangaratta — Community priorities translating into results: Council Plan Year 1 (22 Sep 2026) · Sep 2026
- Rural City of Wangaratta — Budget 2026-27 (page) · Sep 2026
- Rural City of Wangaratta — Budget 2026-27, Mayor and CEO's introduction (PDF) · 2026–27
Underway now
Wangaratta Sports & Aquatic Centre netball amenities (Stage 1)
Construction scheduled August 2026 to August 2027 (project page)New changerooms, public amenities, a registration area, office, kiosk, storage and a meeting room inside the existing stadium, replacing the old netball pavilion, which will be demolished. Supported by a $3 million grant from the Victorian Government's Community Support Fund. A second stage depends on future funding.
WSAC power efficiency upgrade
Works and testing under way (Sep 2026)A $1.3 million energy efficiency upgrade at the Wangaratta Sports & Aquatic Centre, jointly funded by the council and the Australian Government's Community Energy Upgrades Fund: new high-efficiency heat pumps, better air-sealing in the main pool hall and less reliance on gas.
Source: Rural City of Wangaratta — WSAC Power Efficiency Implementation Project
Wangaratta–Whitfield Road advocacy
Community input open on Connect Wangaratta (Sep 2026)The road to the King Valley is managed by the state's Department of Transport and Planning. The council is asking road users to mark problem areas and priority sections, to support its call, with Regional Cities Victoria, for state investment in the road.
Source: Connect Wangaratta — Help Improve Wangaratta-Whitfield Road
Planned / committed
Wangaratta Flood Mitigation Strategy and Design
Funded in the 2026–27 budget$1.57 million in the 2026–27 capital works program, including $517,000 of grant funding, for a flood mitigation strategy and design for Wangaratta.
Source: Rural City of Wangaratta — Budget 2026-27, Mayor and CEO's introduction
Recently delivered
Kerbside glass bin
Introduced in May 2025An 80-litre purple-lid bin for glass bottles and jars, collected every 12 weeks in Wangaratta and listed townships, introduced under the state's four-bin requirement. The council says the service continues at no additional cost to households in 2026–27.