Have your say on Council’s Draft Operational Plan for 2024/25

Council has placed its Draft Operation Plan for 2024/25 on public exhibition and is seeking submissions from the community.

“This is a great opportunity for residents to provide feedback to Council on our plans for the 2024/25 financial year and beyond,” said Warrumbungle Shire Council Mayor, Councillor Ambrose Doolan. “All residents are encouraged to view this draft document during the public exhibition period and provide feedback to Council.” 

The Draft Operational Plan provides the community with an overview of the projects, programs and activities that council will deliver in the next financial year ending 30 June 2025.

The Draft Operational Plan includes the budget for the financial year ending 30 June 2025, along with proposed fees and charges. The draft plan has a strong focus on maintaining and renewing Council’s large infrastructure base.

Included in the 2024/25 Draft Operational Plan Budget are:
• Road operations – ($7.1M)
• Water ($3.79M), Sewer ($5.4M) and Waste Services ($85K) capital related improvements.
• Plant and Equipment Improvement and Renewal – ($2M).
• Urban Services including Town Streets related works (Includes trees/gardens, footpaths, kerb and gutter, drainage, pavements), Ovals, Parks, Swimming Pools and other amenities improvements – ($2.7M).
• Roads Improvement and Renewal – Stage 1 - State Forrest Road Coolah - ($2.5M) 
• Mendooran Water Supply Scheme Upgrades – ($450K)

To fund these works, as well as ongoing services and activities, Council has proposed a number of increases in fees and charges in 2024/25. 

The calculated increases have been proposed in order to continue to provide services to all the communities across the local government area, whilst also maintaining and renewing Council’s large infrastructure base. General rates will increase by 4.5% that IPART has set for all NSW Local Government areas.  

Water, sewer and waste charges will also increase by 4.5% in 2024/25 to achieve ‘best practice’ management of these services. Water supply and sewerage guidelines requires local utility providers to achieve ongoing full cost recovery for their water supply and sewerage services and that there be no cross subsidisation across different funds. Full cost recovery involves raising sufficient revenue to cover maintenance and administration costs as well as the cost of the depreciation of water supply and sewerage infrastructure.

“Council acknowledges that these are significant increases but are proposed as a result of required maintenance, and costs increasing more than revenue given the current economic conditions,” Cr Doolan explained. 

The plans on display include Council’s Revenue Policy, including fees and charges for 2024/25. To view the draft plans, visit:
• www.warrumbungle.nsw.gov.au 
• Warrumbungle Shire Council, 14-22 John Street, Coonabarabran
• Warrumbungle Shire Council, 59 Binnia Street, Coolah

Written submissions on Council’s Draft Operational Plan for 2024/25 are invited and can be submitted online under the ‘Have Your Say’ tab on Council’s website, or in hard copy addressed to the General Manager, PO Box 191, Coonabarabran, NSW, 2357. 

Submissions will be received until 4:30pm Friday, 17 May 2024. Submissions should include a reference to the draft Operational Plan for 2024/25 as the subject of your submission. Submissions received will be summarised and reported to Council.

For more information contact Council’s Director Corporate and Community Services on (02) 6849 2000.

Last Updated: 19 Apr 2024