Annual Business Plan & Budget

What is being decided?

Wattle Range Council's 2024/25 Draft Annual Business Plan has been developed and the community are invited to provide feedback prior to its adoption.

Background

The Draft Annual Business Plan sets out the following for the 2024/25 financial year:

• significant issues & priorities,
• a summary of proposed operating and capital expenditure and income,
• the Budgeted Financial Statements,
• the rates structure and policy for 2024/25,
• an assessment of the impact of the rates structure and policy on the community,
• plans for funding the budget,
• the impact on Council’s Long-Term Financial Plan,
• any relevant issues relating to the management and development of infrastructure and major assets; and
• Council’s long-term objectives (as set out in Council’s Strategic Management Plan).

For the upcoming financial year the focus of the Annual Business Plan is the:

• Construction of the Council Service Centre,
• Reconstruction of Tower Road, Penola
• Increased investment and extension of services on Council’s Road network,
• Increased investment on renewal building assets including the renewal of the roofing of the Millicent Civic and Arts Centre,
• Renewal works of the Beachport Groynes,
• Continuation of increased focus on delivering tourism, community events, support & activities Council wide.

To part fund the strategies, projects and capital expenditure included in the 2024/25 Annual Business Plan, Council is proposing to increase general rates by 6.3% plus growth (0.32%) from new rateable assessments.

In addition to the above strategies, Council will continue a number of previously implemented initiatives including:

• Focus on generating economic stimulus to the greater community through major infrastructure projects,
• Provide an allocation of $100,000 to enable community groups an opportunity to access these funds for major infrastructure projects, and
• Continue preparation of “Shovel Ready” strategies that can be utilised to leverage future grant opportunities for major infrastructure projects.

In developing this Annual Business Plan, Council encountered many competing demands for community projects, annual cost increases, and the ongoing requirement for asset renewals all need to be prioritised. A significant challenge to Council is the cost of waste management disposal. The waste management cost of disposal at Mount Gambier’s Caroline waste disposal facility is set to escalate by 13% in 2024/25. In order to cover this additional cost, the waste management charge payable by ratepayers is set to increase by $38 per 3 bin pick up and $29 per 2 bin pick up respectively to cover this service fee. Council will continue to provide a rebate to eligible pensioners in 2024/25 at $120 for those with a 3 bin service and $90 with a 2 bin service.

For the 2024/25 financial year, Council is seeking to deliver an operational budget of $36.07 Million and a capital expenditure budget of $8.85 Million. Within this budget, Council will continue to focus on increasing asset renewals.

In 2024/25 $6.87 Million has been allocated for the renewal of a wide range of existing facilities and infrastructure. Council has also committed $1.98 Million for the upgrade and acquisition of new assets.

A strong focus of the capital budget is the funding of roads. $1.23 Million has been allocated to the re-sheeting of unsealed roads and a further $1.91 Million for sealed roads across the district. In addition, Council is expending funds to purchase the replacement of $1.35 Million of plant and equipment.

A full list of capital projects is available in the draft Plan.

Get involved

Written submissions for this consultation are now CLOSED.

Feedback was received until 5 pm on Friday, 21 June 2024.

Verbal Submissions

Members of the public are also invited to attend the Ordinary Meeting of Wattle Range Council to be held on Tuesday, 25 June 2024 in the Millicent Council Chambers, Civic Centre, Millicent, commencing at 5 pm, to make submissions to Council in relation to the draft Plan.

Persons intending to attend the meeting to make a submission are respectfully requested to advise Council’s Executive Assistant, Catherine Allen by telephone on 8733 0900, by 5 pm on Monday, 17 June 2024.

Please note that all submissions, including the names of those responding may be tabled at a public meeting of Council unless otherwise indicated by the respondent in which case their details are to be excluded from publication.

What next?

Community feedback about the draft Annual Business Plan and Budget will be considered and a final Plan presented to the Council for adoption at the Ordinary Council meeting to be held on Tuesday, 9 July 2024.