Politics
Dandenong City Council Passes 2026 Infrastructure Levy, Rate Notices to Reflect Changes from January
The levy approved on July 7 will add $47 annually to most household bills starting in the new year to cover road and drainage work.
How we reported this
Dandenong City Council voted 7-2 on July 7 to adopt the 2026 Infrastructure Levy, a measure that raises municipal rates by an average of 2.8 percent for the coming financial year. The decision directly affects the 68,000 rateable properties inside city limits, with the first adjusted notices scheduled for mailing in December.
When the Levy Takes Effect
The levy will appear on rate bills issued after January 1, 2027, with payments due in quarterly instalments. Council documents state that revenue collected in the first six months will go toward contracts already signed for pavement resurfacing on Foster Street and drainage upgrades along Princes Highway. Residents who pay in full by the March deadline will avoid the 3 percent late fee that applies under the existing payment schedule.
Local service delivery will shift in measurable ways once the funds arrive. Street sweeping frequency on collector roads will increase from once every six weeks to once every four weeks beginning in February. Parks maintenance crews will add two seasonal positions funded by the levy, extending mowing cycles at Dandenong Park from 14 days to 10 days during peak growth months.
Budget papers tabled at the meeting list $2.3 million in projected levy receipts for the 2026-27 year. Of that amount, $1.4 million is earmarked for road rehabilitation projects identified in the 2025 asset condition report, while $600,000 will cover new stormwater pit inspections required under updated state environmental rules.
Payment Options and Exemptions
Ratepayers on fixed incomes can apply for the existing pensioner rebate, which the council voted to maintain at its current level of $180 per year. Applications must be lodged by November 30 to receive the credit on the January notice. Commercial properties will see a separate tiered rate structure that begins at 3.1 percent above the 2025 base.
City staff will conduct four public information sessions in August at the Dandenong Civic Centre to explain the new line item on rate notices. The sessions are listed on the council website and require no registration.