Budgets and Planning

2. Integrated planning documents explained

The Community Strategic Plan identifies the objectives that the community wants to head towards and also sets out the strategies on how they will get there.

The Operational Plan and Delivery Program outlines our activities and projects, our budget and our capital works program. It includes information about each council service, explaining what will be provided, how it will be funded, how many people are employed and how much it will cost ratepayers. To improve transparency and accountability, we’ve also included the performance indicators that will be reported to the community every 6 months to measure the progress and impact of our work.

The Statement of Revenue Policy and Fees and Charges are part of the Operational Plan, and published as separate, detailed documents. They set out the rates, annual charges and user fees for the current financial year.

The Resourcing Strategy provides essential plans to support the delivery of our services and activities. It identifies how we’ll ensure sufficient time, money, assets and people are available to action Council’s decisions. It includes the Long Term Financial Plan, the Workforce Management Plan, and the Asset Management Strategy.

Our Assessment of Capacity to Pay Report considers the affordability of our rates to the community.

Our Community Engagement Strategy explores stakeholder groups and methods for engagement in our community.

3. 2024-25 and Previous Year Plans, Statements and Reports

Reporting to our community is a key part of the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework. Further information on the specific reporting requirements can be found at https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/councils/integrated-planning-and-reporting

We are required to publish our audited Financial Statements, Annual Report and six monthly Delivery Program update reports. You can also find the Integrated Plans for previous years. You can download these below.

2024-25

2023-24

State of the Region Report 2021-2024

Quarterly budget review statements

2022-23

2022-23 budget review statements

2021-22

2021- 22 budget review statements

End of Term Report 2017-2021

2020-21

2020-21 budget review statements

2019-20

Merger Report

2018-19

2017-18

2016-17

2015-16

4. Financial Sustainability

Local Government NSW have prepared a cost shifting report which was released in July 2025. Cost shifting occurs when state and federal governments force councils to assume responsibility for infrastructure, services and regulatory functions without providing sufficient supporting funding.

You can read the summary and full report below.

Capacity to Pay

Assessment of Capacity to Pay Report(PDF, 1MB)