Minutes in a Second

Ararat Rural City Council, 27 January 2026

Checked

Decisions

  1. Council received and noted the Annual Report 2024/2025 (carried 6/0, motion 5271/26)

    p. 11 of the official minutes (opens the PDF)

  2. Road names adopted: Sparrows Lane and Withers Lane

    Sparrows Lane was adopted and submitted to the Registrar of Geographic Names (carried 6/0, motion 5272/26). Withers Lane was adopted and submitted (carried 6/0, motion 5273/26).

    Carried p. 150 of the official minutes (opens the PDF)

  3. Fraud and corruption policy and plan adopted

    Council adopted the Fraud and Corruption Control Policy and Fraud and Corruption Control Plan (carried 6/0, motion 5275/26).

    Carried p. 174 of the official minutes (opens the PDF)

  4. Community engagement and complaints policies adopted

    Council adopted the updated Community Engagement Policy (carried 6/0, motion 5276/26) and Complaints Handling Policy (carried 6/0, motion 5277/26).

    Carried p. 196 of the official minutes (opens the PDF)

  5. Budget engagement plan endorsed for 2026/27

    Council endorsed the 2026/27 Budget development timeframe and community engagement plan (carried 6/0, motion 5279/26).

    Carried p. 240 of the official minutes (opens the PDF)

Other notable items

  • Annual report 2024/25 adoption delayed due to VAGO account-approval timing.
  • Sparrows Lane consultation drew 66 submissions: 32 support, 29 oppose, 5 undetermined.
  • Withers Lane consultation received 15 submissions by 12 Jan 2026: 10 yes, 5 no.

Tech & Innovation Notes

  • Council meetings are live streamed via Facebook and the Council website.
  • Community consultation and submissions use “Engage Ararat”.
  • Fraud and corruption controls explicitly reference “cyber fraud”.
317 pages of minutesdecisions from pp. 11, 150, 174, 196, 240