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Residents are invited to provide feedback on several key documents, including next year’s budget, revenue policy and fees and charges, as Council prepares to finalise its Delivery Program and Operational Plan for the next financial year.
These documents have been placed on public exhibition, with Council seeking input from the community before close of business on Monday 6 June 2022.
Documents on display are:
- Draft Community Strategic Plan 2022-2032
- Draft Delivery Program 2022-2026 and Operational Plan 2022/23
- Draft Resourcing Strategy – Supporting the 2022-2032 Community Strategic Plan
- Draft Revenue Policy and Statement 2022/23
- Draft Budget 2022/23
- Draft Fees and Charges 2022/23
- Draft Asset Management Policy
Together these are core documents within the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework which all councils in NSW are required to develop. Council is keen to receive feedback from the community on these documents.
In keeping with the recommended level set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), rates will rise by 1.7% under the $250 million draft annual budget for 2022/23.
This will see ordinary minimum residential and farmland rates rise by $19.10 to $1143.80 for the 2022/23 financial year, while ordinary minimum business rates will rise by $21, to $1257.30 for the year.
Annual charges, including water, sewerage and waste charges, will rise by $35.65 for the year. Combined with rates, this will take the total minimum residential bill to $2740.30 for the 2022/23 financial year – representing a 2% increase.
Council’s budget is comprised of 3 funds: $150 million from general funds, $51 million from water funds and $49 million from sewerage funds.
Key capital works projects earmarked for the 2022/23 financial year include:
- $20 million on road upgrades and rehabilitation works, not including flood recovery works
- $4 million additional funds for the Animal Rehoming Centre relocation
- $5 million towards Hastings Point Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade
- $4 million to mitigate the risk of salt water contamination at Bray Park Weir
- $1.7 million towards the water supply link to the Gold Coast.
Mayor of Tweed Chris Cherry said the capital works and associated funding is based on scheduled programming that preceded the February and March 2022 flood events.
“The recent floods have had an enormous impact on our community,” Cr Cherry said.
“As a result of the sheer scale of infrastructure rebuilding works required of Council following the flood, the capital works identified in these documents may have to be changed to accommodate high priority flood recovery works.
“The flood resulted in significant damage to Council’s roads, water supply, wastewater system, buildings, equipment and parks and the repair costs will need to be taken into account.”
The record flood has left a damage bill of an estimated $80 million on Council infrastructure, including more than $50 million in damages to the road network.
“Council has a responsibility to maintain our infrastructure and assets for the community and it is essential we ensure we have the funds available to support this commitment as well as funding other important programs and services," Cr Cherry said.
“Council will have access to some Federal and State disaster funding to help meet some of the flood recovery costs, but we will need to consider our budget priorities carefully as we recover from this disaster.
“While every effort is made to keep rates and charges rises to a minimum, the traditional role of councils has evolved significantly to include the provision of a wide range of physical, social and recreational services and facilities for the community.
“It’s important residents have a say on how their rates and charges are spent and we encourage the community to provide feedback on these documents to ensure we’re making decisions in their best interests.”
The draft documents on exhibition can be viewed, and feedback provided, on Council’s community engagement website, Your Say Tweed at yoursaytweed.com.au/delivering-our-future.
As previously advised, Council's Community Strategic Plan (CSP) is also currently on exhibition, with community submissions closing on 6 June. This is a key strategic document within the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework. For more information on the CSP, view our media release or to have your say go to www.yoursaytweed.com.au/future-of-the-tweed.
At the conclusion of the exhibition period for all documents, community feedback will be collated and presented to Councillors at a meeting in June 2022.
For more information, call Council’s Contact Centre on 02 6670 2400.
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