Share your thoughts on Council’s draft 2024-25 budget and plans

Published on 09 May 2024

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council is seeking feedback on its draft integrated planning documents and financial policies for the 2024-25 financial year.

Council endorsed the following documents for consultation at its meeting on 8 May 2024:

• Draft Operational Plan 2024-25
• Draft Statement of Revenue Policy 2024-25
• Draft Service Statements 2024-25
• Draft Long-Term Financial Plan 2024-34
• Draft Donations Policy and Guidelines

‘The 2024-25 draft Operational Plan represents the third year of this Council’s Delivery Program, and the second year of the three-year Special Rate Variation’ said Mayor Kenrick Winchester.

‘We had to make a lot of tough decisions about where to prioritise funding to ensure Council’s ongoing financial sustainability, but we have maintained a focus on improving our asset maintenance and our customer responsiveness,’ the Mayor said.

‘We have allocated an additional $1.2m to our local road maintenance and grading program, now totalling $6.05m, and a further $500,000 to resourcing in our development assessment branch.

‘We know that our farmers and people living in rural areas need safe and trafficable roads, 690km of which are unsealed local roads to ensure agricultural markets are accessible, and families can travel to education, health and social activities. This funding will provide a third roads crew with plant to improve the condition of our unsealed road network even further.

‘The additional resources for our development assessment team are aimed at reducing delays currently being experienced by new home builders and renovators. Through a fast track DA workflow there will be improvements to the customer timeframes and experience.

‘While these two areas are important to Council and the community, we know that we need to continue to deliver in other areas to ensure that residents are receiving value for money for their rates and charges.’

The Operational Plan is developed alongside the Revenue Policy and Fees and Charges and sets out the actions we will take and projects we will begin in the 2024-25 financial year.

The Operational Plan includes a detailed capital works program that is funded through general revenue (rates), grants, developer contributions, loans and reserves.

‘The total program is valued at $80m, with nearly $30m of that work occurring in our water, sewer and waste funds,’ said Mayor Winchester.

‘Some of the highlights of the 2024-25 capital works program include:

• Construction of women’s rugby league changerooms at Freebody Oval, Queanbeyan

• Progression of the new Bungendore swimming pool
• Increase in Council’s roads renewal program
• Safety upgrades to the Macs Reef Road and Bungendore Road intersections
• Pre-construction works of the new Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant
• Replacement of the Cooma Street, Queanbeyan water main

Council’s fees and charges will generally increase by 4% while waste, water and sewer charges are proposed to increase by 4 - 4.5% to meet the growing costs of providing these services. Queanbeyan sewer costs will increase by a further 2% to assist with the funding of the Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant upgrade.

Staff will also progress important operational projects, including the completion of the Braidwood Structure Plan, delivery of community events, a range of financial support programs, studies related to the proposed Dunns Creek Road and much more.

The community is invited to view the plans and make a comment online at yourvoice.qprc.nsw.gov.au/2024-25-draft-integrated-plans

The plans will also be featured at our upcoming community meetings. They will be held in Braidwood on 16 May at the Braidwood Servicemen’s Club, Queanbeyan on 21 May at the Queanbeyan Council Chambers, and Bungendore on 23 May at the Bungendore Multipurpose Hall.