Like many Victorian councils, Glen Eira is also battling unprecedented pressure from rising costs, flatlining revenue and growing community expectations. These challenges are compounded by our long-standing commitment to affordability — and a legacy of delivering more with less. 

Mayor Cr Simone Zmood said Glen Eira had always taken pride in being lean, efficient and community-focused. 

“But the reality is, we’re being squeezed from all sides. We can’t keep doing things the same way and expect to meet the needs of a growing, changing community.” 

The numbers make a case for change 

The Financial Plan indicates future financial challenges and need for a comprehensive Financial Sustainability Strategy. 

• COVID-19 hit Glen Eira hard, forcing the closure of facilities and disrupting many services, which reduced our income. In total, the pandemic cost Council more than $55 million, which had a significant impact on our cash position. 

• Since 2020, Glen Eira’s financial sustainability indicators have trended downward, despite remaining within Council’s risk tolerance. 

• Glen Eira has the second lowest rates revenue per property and the sixth lowest expenses per property among metropolitan councils. 

• Council has absorbed over $18 million in unfunded service transfers from other levels of government — including school crossings, libraries, and maternal health. 

• The Fair Go Rates System has capped rate increases well below inflation. In 2023, the Consumer Price Index was 6 per cent but the rate cap was just 1.75 per cent. 

• Glen Eira manages $3 billion in assets and delivers more than 120 services, but has limited flexibility to increase revenue or reduce costs without impacting service quality. 

These pressures affect residents’ everyday services — from maternal and child health, aged care and libraries, to parks, roads, and waste collection. 

“We’re proud of what we deliver,” Cr Zmood said.  

“But we need to be honest about what it costs — and how we’ll keep delivering it in a way that’s fair, sustainable and community-led.” 

A case for sustainability — and for the future 

To respond to these challenges, we’re developing a Financial Sustainability Strategy and establishing an Innovation and Financial Sustainability Advisory Committee. The Committee, consisting of both community and skills-based members, will provide advice and recommendations to Council and its officers to help guide the achievement of Council’s strategic goal to be innovative and financial sustainable. 

We’ll be looking at ways to strengthen long-term financial resilience, including: 

• prioritising services that deliver the greatest community benefit 

• managing assets strategically, including underused buildings and spaces 

• exploring fairer user-pays models for selected services 

• securing external funding through stronger advocacy and grant seeking 

• improving internal efficiency through smarter systems and planning. 

This reflects what we’ve heard through two years of intense engagement, including Community Priorities Panels and the Our Place, Our Plan community engagement process. 

“This isn’t just about balancing the books,” Cr Zmood said. “It’s about protecting what matters most — and making sure Glen Eira remains a great place to live, work and play, now and into the future.” 

Community voices at the centre 

Any future decisions will be grounded in what we’ve heard Glen Eira’s community values most. Through thousands of conversations, surveys, pop-ups and two Community Priorities Panels, residents have consistently called for: 

• protection of services that support wellbeing and inclusion 

• fairness and transparency in decision-making 

• smarter use of assets and resources 

• a willingness to explore change — if it’s done with care and equity. 

“Our community has been clear,” Cr Zmood said. “They want us to protect what matters, be transparent about the trade-offs, and involve them in shaping the path forward.” 

What’s next 

We’ll release more detail before the end of the year about our plan to improve our long-term financial sustainability. This will help to prepare for future challenges, as well as current pressures — from climate resilience and demographic shifts to evolving service expectations. 

“We’re not just planning for next year,” Cr Zmood said. “We’re planning for the next generation. And we’re doing it together — with our community, for our community.” 

The adopted Financial Plan is available here.