Draft Operational Plan and Budget for Public Exhibition

Published on 03 May 2024

Wingecarribee Shire Council Endorses Draft Operational Plan and Budget for Public Exhibition

The Wingecarribee Shire Council’s Draft Operational Plan and Budget for 2024/25, along with the Fees and Charges schedule and Resourcing Strategy, was endorsed for public exhibition at Wednesday’s Extraordinary Meeting, these are now available for the public to review for 28 days from 3 May to 2 June 2024.

“These essential documents outline the Council’s strategic priorities and financial commitments for the upcoming financial year,” said Wingecarribee Shire Council’s General Manager Lisa Miscamble

"This year's budget prioritises transparency alongside responsible resource management," said Administrator, Mr Viv May. "We've made significant strides in providing a deeper level of detail, breaking down allocations down to the coordinator level. This ensures clear accountability and empowers the community to understand how their rates are used."

Mr. May emphasised the importance of resident participation "By making the draft operational plan, budget, and resourcing strategy available for public review, we encourage residents to engage with the Council's vision. This open approach fosters trust and assures the community of our commitment to improving and maintaining essential services, as demonstrated by investments in projects like the new animal shelter, sewerage upgrades, and drainage improvements."

The proposed operating budget for the 2024/25 financial year amounts to around $162 million in operating expenditure. This allocation is designated for delivering community services and upkeeping essential infrastructure to ensure public safety. Approximately $109 million has been allocated this year to capital expenditure, highlights include the following:

• $4.28M to finalise the new Southern Highlands Regional Animal Shelter & SES
• $48.6m on essential Upgrades to Sewerage Treatment Plants at Moss Vale and Bowral
• $1.2M on developing the David Woods Playspace
• $3.9M on the Welby Landfill Remediation

It’s important to note that this Operational Plan and Budget is the final year in Council’s Delivery Program 2022-2025 and will be the plan that the newly elected Council will be working with after the September Council elections.

While the proposed budget amounts to an operating deficit due to higher depreciation costs, potentially impacting future asset maintenance, Council is proactively addressing these challenges. We are advocating for reforms and exploring innovative ways to streamline operations and maximise efficiency.

In terms of fees and charges, adjustments have been proposed to align with service costs, including new fees and discontinuations. Notably, to ensure the long-term sustainability and capacity of essential services, Wingecarribee Shire Council is proposing adjustments to fees and charges. This includes water and sewer rates, which will see a 7% increase. This increase is critical to fund essential upgrades to our water and sewer infrastructure, particularly the at-capacity Moss Vale and Bowral Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). These upgrades are critical to maintain reliable service as our region's population grows. While securing a $31 million grant for the STP upgrades helped lessen the burden, some adjustments are necessary. Similarly, volatile pricing trends in the waste industry necessitate adjustments to waste fees.

"We're committed to being transparent with our pricing to ensure that fees and charges align to our Pricing Policy Principles whilst maintaining Council’s financial sustainability. These adjustments are based on a thorough review of fees and charges necessary to

maintain the high quality of essential services and infrastructure our community relies on, especially as our region continues to grow," said Pav Kuzmanovski, Chief Financial Officer and Acting Director Corporate Strategy and Resourcing.

Also of note is Council’s plans to continue the upgrade and improvement of the Recycling and Resource Centre, showcasing Councils commitment to sustainability and waste management.

Integral to the Draft Operational Plan and Budget is the Draft Resourcing Strategy, which is also on public exhibition. This strategy has been developed to steer the Council's long-term vision, covering aspects such as resource allocation, investments, and project delivery. Its main aim is to ensure that we are making the best use of our resources for the benefit of the community.

The Draft Resourcing Strategy, Draft Operational Plan and Budget 2024/25 are now available for public review on the Council's community engagement platform, Participate Wingecarribee, at https://participatewingecarribee.wsc.nsw.gov.au/resourcing-strategy-operational-plan-budget. Hard copies of the drafts are also available at Council Libraries and the Customer Service Counter located at the Civic Centre (68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale NSW 2577) during business hours (8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday).

We encourage as many people as possible to take some time and find out about the projects planned for the year ahead. We value your feedback, and all submissions will be considered as part of the engagement process. You can have your say through the Participate Wingecarribee website or by mail to mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au. The feedback can be hand delivered to the Council's Civic Centre at 68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale, NSW 2577, or posted to Wingecarribee Shire Council, PO Box 141, Moss Vale, NSW 2577.