Council Adopts Key Strategic and Operational Documents

Published on 02 July 2025

Following public exhibition, seven key strategic and operational documents were adopted by Leeton Shire Council at its 30 June Ordinary Council Meeting.  

The adopted document suite comprises the 2025-2029 Delivery Program, 2025/26 Operational Plan, Budget and Revenue Policy, and Resourcing Strategy (including the 2025-2035 Long-Term Financial Plan, Strategic Asset Management Plan and 2025-2029 Workforce Management Plan).

The Delivery Program and Operational Plan is a combined document that outlines how Leeton Shire Council will deliver on the community’s aspirations as articulated in the Leeton on the Go - Towards 2035 Community Strategic Plan.

“The Delivery Program represents Council’s four-year commitment to the community. It sets out the strategic objectives and initiatives that Council aims to achieve over its term in office,” said Mayor Cr George Weston.

Mayor Cr George Weston said given Council's constrained general fund, the Annual Plan and Budget in 2025/26 is largely business-as-usual including completing capital works for essential services and a modest amount of master planning and detailed design included for a range of discretionary projects so that the Shire is 'shovel ready' in the event government grants come available at a future date.  

“The exception to this is the housing project at Brobenah Rd (former caravan park) where Council will continue to spearhead a subdivision and enabling infrastructure with the aim of addressing the significant shortage of affordable housing stock in Leeton Shire. To achieve this we have applied for funding to cover 80% of the subdivision costs. Council will also endeavour to work with Homes NSW to increase our social housing stock in Yanco at Eventide Homes,” he said.

The IPART nominated rate peg of 4.4% has been applied. The 2025/26 financial year also marks the second and final year of the two-year rates rebalancing program aimed at improving fairness and equity across the rating categories, which will see the rate peg redistributed from Farmland onto Business for two years (only).

Council’s IP&R Coordinator Sarah Stewart thanked all residents who gave feedback during the public exhibition of the documents.

“We received 102 submissions on the documents and some submitters also addressed Council at the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 10 June 2025,” she said.

After considering submissions on the draft fees and charges, Council decided to keep the golf membership fees and the student swimming instructors the same as in 2024/25. Private swimming instructor fees were reduced from $209 to $120 per season on the basis that learning to swim should be kept affordable for all families as it is an important life skill. A request to reduce weekend basketball fees and introduce a single-person ‘hoop shooting fee’ was deferred pending a meeting between Council and all the user groups of the Stadium.  

Council also confirmed the exhibited increases to waste, sewer and water charges at 4%, 7% and 7% respectively, except for the tier 3 water charge which now remains unchanged from 2024/25 after feedback from many residents.

Financial sustainability remains a challenge (and is an issue facing councils across NSW and indeed Australia). Mayor Cr George Weston said that under the adopted “base case”, Council will start running out of unrestricted cash by 2028/29 and will then have to start using its internal reserves. Even the more conservative alternative scenario – that has all discretionary projects removed – still shows unrestricted cash running out in 2028/29.

“It is always a challenge for Council to find the right balance between meeting the latest aspirations of the community and getting back into black,” he said.

“Council has engaged the services of Professor Joseph Drew from the University of Newcastle to provide an independent study into our financial sustainability. His report will be discussed with Councillors later this month and will be released publicly in August 2025. Professor Drew is recommending Council commences a year-long Financial Sustainability Improvement Plan in the first instance, before commencing consultation on a Special Rate Variation (if required) in 2026/27.”

“We are committed to meaningful, ongoing engagement with residents as we explore the best way forward for achieving financial sustainability at Leeton Shire Council,” said Mayor Weston.

The suite of adopted IP&R documents can be found on Council’s website at www.leeton.nsw.gov.au

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:

George Weston                        
Mayor
T. 0417 519 580

Jackie Kruger                                         
General Manager
T. 0417 256 092