Politics
Dandenong Infrastructure Funding Referendum Set for November Ballot, with Local Rate Changes Projected from 2027
Dandenong residents face a November referendum on infrastructure funding that would adjust local service levies starting in the 2027 fiscal year if approved.
How we reported this
The Dandenong local government placed a ballot measure on the November 2026 election asking voters to approve a dedicated funding stream for road maintenance and community facilities. The measure would authorise a new levy on commercial and residential properties within city limits. All property owners in Dandenong would be subject to the levy if the referendum passes.
Why the Referendum Reaches Voters Now
The proposal follows the release of the 2025 capital works assessment, which identified 42 kilometres of local roads requiring resurfacing within five years. Council records show deferred maintenance costs reached 18 million dollars last fiscal year. The referendum gives residents a direct vote on whether to address those costs through new revenue rather than further delays.
Residents would notice the first effects in property tax notices mailed in January 2027. The legislation states the levy would add an average of 95 dollars annually to single-family homes and 280 dollars to commercial parcels over 2,000 square metres. Funds would be restricted to projects listed in the council’s five-year infrastructure plan, including upgrades to the Dandenong Market precinct and two neighbourhood parks.
Implementation Timeline and Service Effects
Voting occurs on 3 November 2026, with results certified by the city clerk no later than 20 November. If approved, the levy takes effect on 1 January 2027 and appears on the first quarter tax bills mailed that month. Construction contracts funded by the measure are projected to begin in the second quarter of 2027, starting with pavement work on Foster Street and the Princes Highway service road.
The 2025 assessment documented that 35 percent of Dandenong’s signalised intersections currently operate below safety standards. Revenue from the levy is expected to allow replacement of 12 signals in the first two years. Local advocates note that households near those intersections could see shorter commute times once work is completed, though exact travel savings remain unquantified in current documents.
Policy analysts say the measure includes an annual public report requirement, with the first review due in March 2028. That report must list every project funded and the actual levy collected from each property class. Residents can review the reports at the Dandenong civic centre or on the city website.