LPSC Draft Operational Plan 2024-2025 on Public Exhibition
At its Ordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday 24 April 2024, the Liverpool Plains Shire Council (LPSC) resolved to place its draft Operational Plan 2024-2025, Fees and Charges Schedule 2024-2025 and Long-Term Financial Plan 2024-2034 (LTFP) on public exhibition for a period of 28 days from 26 April to Monday 27 May 2024.
Once the draft Operational Plan, Fees and Charges, and LTFP are placed on public exhibition, members of the public have the opportunity to make submissions and provide feedback. A copy of all documents is available on Council’s website at: Have Your Say.
Any submissions received during this period will be provided to the Council for consideration at its Ordinary Meeting scheduled to be held Wednesday, 26 June 2024 prior to the adoption of the draft Operational Plan, Fees, and Charges, and LTFP.
FAQs
- Draft Combined Delivery Program 2022-2026 and Operational Plan 2025
- Draft Fees and Charges 2024-2025
- Draft Long-Term Financial Plan 2024-2034
What is the draft Combined Delivery Program and Operational Plan?
The draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan outlines the projects and actions Council will undertake to achieve the objectives and strategies outlined in our Community Strategic Plan.
The document includes:
- Our combined four-year Delivery Program 2022-2026 and Operational Plan for 2024-2025
- Financial Information, including projected budget, cashflow and financial position for the next four years
- Capital Works Program
- Statement of Revenue Policy
What are some of the actions and projects outlined in the Operational Plan 2024-2025?
- Deliver the Quirindi Aquatic Centre redevelopment
- Investigate potential partnerships that can deliver additional services via Council’s library branches, pools, Plains Fitness and Eastside Long Day Care Centre
- Effective management of the region’s road network
- Finalise the design of the Kokoda Trail project between Werris Creek and Quirindi
- Council to work alongside the Local Advisory Groups on local priorities and seeks their input on whole of shire priorities
- Review and report on the Community Strategic Plan
- Provide enhanced Customer Experience when communicating with Council
- Continue the implementation of the Waste Management Strategy program
- Electric vehicle charging stations installed within the shire in accordance with the NSW Governments Electric Vehicle Strategy
- Deliver the Werris Creek Industrial Precinct Upgrade
Some Financial Information quick facts?
Council estimates a budget deficit of $7.5m (net operating result before capital items) due to less anticipated grant funding, increased electricity and insurance costs and operating costs for the new Water Treatment Plant.
Total revenue raised from the levying of land rates continues to be capped by the NSW Government, through the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). In 2024-2025 Council will increase rates revenue by 4.8% as per the cap set by IPART. This results in a $558,707 increase in Council’s general rate income and equates to an average $2.69/day for residential ratepayers.
Council continues to reduce the residential water access charge in accordance with the decision made last year to move towards a user pays water usage system. This has resulted in an increase of $0.76 and $0.75 to the step 1 and 2 water usage charges, respectively.
Sewer annual charges and usage charges have increased by 7% to cover the rising costs of providing these services.
Materials and contracts have increased by an average 5%, however, due to less anticipated grant funding there is a $1.2m decrease overall for materials and services.
Operating costs for the new Water Treatment Plant include $366k for materials and contracts, $138k for electricity and $60k for insurance.
$52.5m Proposed capital works program includes the following projects:
- Quirindi Wastewater Treatment Plant - $13.3m
- Werris Creek Industrial Precinct Southern Approach - Stage 1 - $10.8m
- Quirindi Aquatic Centre - $8.5m
- Transport Infrastructure - $8.5m
- Plant Renewal - $2.9m
- Willow Tree Landfill - $2.6m
Fees and charges updates
An average increase of 5% has been applied across all fees and charges unless individual fees or charges have been deemed an exception and required further investigation and adjustment.
Other fees and charges that are prescribed by the NSW State Government with Council having no discretion in the determination of these fees.
Long-Term Financial Plan
The draft Long-Term Financial Plan provides the detailed financial position of Council inclusive of the permanent Special Rate Variation. This report includes three scenarios that model ten years into the future to assess Councils long-term financial sustainability.
Council has now resolved that these documents will be placed on public exhibition for 28 days:
The public exhibition period commences Friday 26 April 2024 and closes on Monday 27 May 2024. Links to the draft documents are available on the Liverpool Plains Shire Council website at: Have Your Say.
Council is unable to provide hard copies of these documents, however these draft documents are available to be viewed at the following locations:
- Liverpool Plains Council Chambers
- Quirindi Library
- Werris Creek Library
Submissions should be emailed to:
submissions@liverpoolplains.nsw.gov.au
What will happen with my submission?
All submissions received will be recorded, considered and reported back to Council in preparation of the final documents being presented to Council for adoption at the 26 June 2024 ordinary meeting.