During their April council meeting, councillors approved a project summary report of quarter three delivery under the 2025-26 program.
The motion, moved by Cr Tony Marwood and seconded by Cr Paul Jarman, recommended that councillors receive and note the progress and challenges towards delivering the annual CWP.
The 2025-26 CWP includes 88 projects, consisting of 56 new works and 32 projects carried over from the 2024-25 financial year.
Of those 32 carried over projects, 23 have been completed.
Cr Rob Amos acknowledged the progress of projects under way, including Kyabram’s Wilf Cox Pavilion, where work is being done on stage two of the project.
The project summary report highlighted that as of March, council’s work was 65 per cent completed on site, with a revised completion date to be confirmed in coming weeks.
The year-to-date expenditure by March 31 was $16.4 million, including both new and carried-over works.
When factoring in $19.7 million, which has been committed in the year to date, the total actuals and commitments sit at $36.1 million, representing 88 per cent of the total $41 million annual target spend.
Cr Luke Sharrock, speaking against the motion, questioned whether ratepayers could afford the projects.
He expressed concerns over the $2 million in additional projects, which includes Kyabram Jaycee Park Masterplan, that were included in the capital program outside the budget process and questioned the spend amount occurring in that space.
Supporting the motion, Cr Zoe Cook said she thought it was all money well spent across the shire, to better the shire for the community.
When put to the vote, the motion carried 8-1, with Crs Marwood, Jarman, Amos, Cook, Adrian Weston, Jessica Mitchell, John Zobec and Mayor Daniel Mackrell voting in support, while Cr Sharrock voted against.
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