In one corner was Cr Bernard Gaffney, who argued the entire sum should go towards the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve, which requested money for a solar system, estimated at $13,000, to help bring down costs.

But he could not get a seconder for the motion.

It was knocked out by Cr Larry Goldsworthy’s idea to create an ongoing strategy to help all community groups plan their solar projects because he said the council’s role should be in the strategy space to be “fair and equitable to all groups”.

“It needs to be done for the future vitality of our shire,” he said.

“We need to understand the need to respond to our changing environment.”

The 2017-18 budget and four-year plan were passed unanimously with a 2 per cent rate rise, in line with the state government cap.

The budget featured an $8.2 million capital works plan with no new borrowings and the $2.2 million early payment of federal government grants in June reduced the deficit to $3.97 million, down from a surplus of $2.85 million in 2016-17.

Mayor Jenny O’Connor said the council plan set out priorities for the next four years, including sporting facilities and an aging population, and introduced the new tagline “Indigo: heritage shire – bold future”.

“We’ll face challenges in the coming years as funding for local government continues to be constrained, but I believe this council plan strikes the right balance between responding to the needs of the community and our ongoing need to be financially responsible,” she said.