Frankston City Council is planning for a bold future. With a newly elected Council in place, we’re seizing the opportunity to set a fresh direction that reflects community aspirations, addresses current challenges and lays the foundation for long-term success.
The following suite of strategic documents forms Council’s official roadmap for the next four years. Developed in line with legislative requirements and shaped through extensive community engagement, these plans will help us to prioritise services, fund infrastructure, deliver health and wellbeing outcomes and make our city more inclusive, sustainable and connected. All these documents were formally endorsed by Council on 23 June 2025, marking a key milestone in our city’s strategic planning cycle.
For the first time, we’re working within a refreshed Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework, aligning every aspect of our strategy and key planning documents throughout the strategic planning cycle – from the Community Vision 2040, through to annual reporting:
The Framework and the related documents (as outlined in more detail on the following pages) represent a shared blueprint for Frankston City’s future – built on what matters most to you.
Read on to see how your ideas, your needs and your vision have shaped Council’s plan for the years ahead.
The Community Vision 2040 is the long-term aspiration for Frankston City – created by the community, for the community – it describes the kind of city we want to be by 2040 and acts as the foundation for Council’s strategic planning and decision-making.
The vision was shaped through a robust community engagement process carried out between 2024 and 2025. This included broad public engagement as well as a deliberative Community Panel made up of 39 residents, carefully selected to reflect the diversity of Frankston City’s population.
The Community Panel reviewed the previous Community Vision and worked together across multiple sessions to develop a new vision statement and identify the community’s priorities for the future – which formed the Community Vision Themes.
Our Community Vision Statement
Frankston City Community Vision 2040
"Frankston City is a safe, inclusive, and caring community in which to live, work and play. Our vibrant coastal City is clean, leafy, environmentally responsible, well planned, accessible and innovative for a changing future. We are proud, engaged and connected."
Community Vision Themes
The Community Vision 2040 and Council and Wellbeing Plan have been developed around four key themes, which serve as high level aspirations for our future:
The Council and Wellbeing Plan 2025–2029 sets Frankston City Council’s strategic direction for the next four years, outlining how we will deliver services, invest in community priorities and support a healthier, more inclusive city.
For the first time, this plan integrates the Council Plan and Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan into one unified document – ensuring health, inclusion and equity are embedded across all strategic priorities and service areas.
Unlike previous plans, which were updated annually, this is a single, four-year plan aligned to the Council term. Because of this, the Budget and Action Plan will now be delivered separately each year.
The Council and Wellbeing Plan was shaped by extensive community input and reflects the values, aspirations and expectations of our diverse community. It ensures Council remains focused on what matters most to residents, while providing a clear framework to track progress and achieve meaningful outcomes.
Guided by the Community Vision 2040 and delivered through annual action plans and budgets, it uses clear outcomes and indicators to ensure Council remains accountable.
Health and Wellbeing Priorities
Our new Health and Wellbeing Priorities set a clear direction for creating a healthier, more connected and inclusive community. Informed by community engagement, local data and aligned with the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2023–2027, these priorities guide how Council, partners and the wider community will work together to improve local health and wellbeing.
Strategic Outcomes
While the Community Vision Themes express broad community aspirations, the Council and Wellbeing Plan’s Strategic Outcomes offer a practical framework that Council will use to deliver on those aspirations over the next four years.
Each Strategic Outcome directly aligns with one of the four Vision Themes and sets a clear direction for Council action. They break down the high-level hopes of the community into focused areas of work, with measurable objectives, supporting strategies and indicators of success.
Frankston City Council’s Revenue and Rating Plan 2025–2029 outlines how Council will generate the income needed to fund community services, infrastructure and strategic priorities. Developed under the Local Government Act 2020, this four-year plan ensures Council operates within a financially sustainable framework while supporting the goals of the Council and Wellbeing Plan.
Around 63 per cent of Council’s revenue comes from rates and charges. Council uses a differential rating system based on Capital Improved Value (CIV) to ensure fairness and equity – allowing higher rates to be applied where appropriate, such as for commercial or vacant land holdings.
This plan also reinforces Council’s commitment to equity, sustainability and transparency in the way it raises and allocates revenue, while maintaining essential services and delivering on the community’s vision.
The new vacant land differential rate
To support development and deter land banking in key precincts, Council has introduced a new differential rate for vacant land in the Frankston Metropolitan Activity Centre (FMAC) and along the Nepean Highway. Vacant land in these areas will attract a rate three times higher than the general rate, providing a strong financial incentive for landowners to develop or sell underutilised land.
This measure aims to unlock opportunities for new housing, infrastructure and economic growth, ensuring these key sites contribute a vibrant future for Frankston City. The change also supports a fairer rating system that prioritises active land use and revitalisation.
If you are a property owner affected by this new differential rate and you would like more information, you can contact Council’s Rates team on 1300 322 322 or visit our Rates webpage.
Your 2025-2026 Rates
For the 2025–2026 financial year, Frankston City Council will increase general rates by 3 per cent, in line with the Victorian Government's legislated rate cap. This cap limits the total revenue that councils can raise from general rates and municipal charges.
However, due to the introduction of a new differential rate on vacant land, the overall rate burden on residential and commercial ratepayers is expected to be approximately 2 per cent.
Your Rates and Valuation Notice
The annual Rates and Valuation Notice is usually sent in August – showing your property valuation, applied rates and payment options. Payment is due across four instalments in September, November, February and May.
Valuations are determined by the Valuer-General and updated annually. Property owners can lodge a formal objection within two months of receiving their notice if they believe their valuation is incorrect.
For more information about rates, visit our Rates webpage. There’s also a range of payment plan and financial hardship supports available to help make payments more manageable.
The Annual Budget 2025–2026 is Council’s key annual financial plan, developed to balance the delivery of day-to-day services with strategic investment that supports Frankston’s long-term growth.
It builds upon the aspirations and outcomes set out in the Council and Wellbeing Plan and funds the actions identified in the Year One Action Plan. It also aligns with Council’s 10-Year Financial Plan and Asset Plan to ensure long-term financial sustainability. This year’s Budget reflects early and extensive engagement with community members, local groups and businesses – ensuring the final Budget responds to community priorities and challenges.
Council recognises the continued cost-of-living pressures facing many in our community. That’s why the Budget includes a $1.7 million Local Support Package – providing targeted relief for residents, businesses and community groups, while maintaining strong investment in infrastructure, safety, events and local services.
Budget Highlights
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More than $215,000 to expand safety and wellbeing programs, including Rapid Response patrols, Community Connectors and new graffiti prevention and community partnerships
Year One Action Plan
The Year One Action Plan (2025–2026) has been fully integrated into the Annual Budget 2025-2026, ensuring a direct connection between Council’s strategic direction and its financial planning.
It outlines 77 clear and measurable initiatives that translate the Council and Wellbeing Plan’s four Strategic Outcomes into tangible actions.
By aligning each initiative with dedicated funding, Council is ensuring transparency, accountability and a strong foundation for delivering positive outcomes for the Frankston City community.
Local Support Package
Council’s $1.7 million Local Support Package, announced as part of the Annual Budget 2025–2026, delivers targeted relief to help residents, businesses and community groups navigate cost-of-living pressures.
The package includes practical supports such as a pause on select fees, food relief grants, assistance for those in financial hardship and free access to select community services. It also funds a range of community-focused initiatives, including:
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$40,000 to expand the Community Connectors program into Station Street, bringing total funding to $240,000 to support traders and vulnerable residents
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$28,000 for urban greening – including $18,000 for 9,000 new trees in schools and $10,000 to update the significant tree register
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$80,000 boost to the destination events budget, now $310,000, to expand local events and attract more visitors
Together, these initiatives reflect Council’s Stronger Together commitment – easing financial strain while continuing to invest in services, inclusion and community connection.
The Annual Report is a key part of Council’s planning and reporting cycle, showing how we’ve delivered on the priorities set out in our Council and Wellbeing Plan, annual action plans and budgets, as well as other key plans and strategies.
The Annual Report 2024-2025 will be released later this year (2025), providing a clear summary of Council’s performance, achievements and financial position over the last year. This will be the last report for the 2021-2025 planning cycle, with the first annual report for our new planning cycle (2025-2029) set to be released in late 2026. Come back for those!
Local Government Performance Rating Framework (LGPRF)
The Local Government Performance Reporting Framework (LGPRF) provides a consistent set of indicators to help Victorian councils track, report and improve their performance in delivering services and managing resources.
These documents mark a major step forward in shaping the future of Frankston City –bringing together community priorities, strategic goals and financial planning into one aligned vision for our future. Together these documents will guide Council’s work over the next four years and ensure we stay focused on what matters most to you.
To access the full range of documents, visit out Key Strategic Documents webpage.
And for more information or assistance, please call us on 1300 322 322 or email info@frankston.vic.gov.au.