• What is the purpose of these draft documents?

• The draft Delivery Program 2025-2029, draft Resourcing Strategy 2025-2035, draft Financial Strategy ‘Sustainable and Thriving’, draft Operational Plan and Budget 2025/26 and draft Fees and Charges 2025/26 help Council plan and deliver services, infrastructure, and projects that support our community’s needs, both now and over the next 10 years.

  The draft Delivery Plan is a four-year plan that covers the term of our elected Council and is reviewed annually. It includes strategies based on what Council can achieve over the next four years to bring us closer to the goals and community outcomes outlined Wingecarribee 2035 Community Strategic Plan. The draft Operational Plan includes a list of actions and projects Council will undertake in 2025/26 and aligns with the strategies in the draft Delivery Program.

  The draft Resourcing Strategy and draft Financial Strategy supports Wingecarribee 2035 Community Strategic Plan and explains how Council will achieve the community's long-term objectives by applying its time, money, assets and people.
• What is the Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) Framework?

• The IP&R Framework is a requirement for all Councils in NSW. It ensures that long-term community goals are clearly linked to strategic plans, annual budgets, service delivery, and performance reporting. It helps Council make informed, transparent decisions and remain accountable to the community.

• What is Council planning to deliver in the next 2025/26 financial year period?

• The draft Operational Plan and budget describes what Council is planning to deliver next financial year.

  Some key highlights for 2025/2026 include:

  • Significant upgrades and improvements to our Road and Footpath networks
  • Commencement of the Mittagong Playhouse refurbishment project
  • Opening of the Animal Shelter
  • Church Road Oval Sportsfield Lighting Renewal
  • Welby Landfill Remediation (which will enable a future mountain bike jump park to be constructed)
  • ‘Learn to Swim’ Programs and community aquatic events
  • Launch of a new Mobile Library and updated Library website
  • Commissioning of the Moss Vale sewage treatment plant
  • Commissioning of the Bowral sewage treatment plant
• Why has Council chosen to fund specific Capital works projects and not others over the coming 12 months?

• We are investing approximately $88 million in 2025/2026 in capital works projects. Over the next 4 years we plan to invest more than $367 million in our critical assets including roads, footpaths, water and sewage assets.

  There is always a need to prioritise activities when there is a finite amount of resources (money and people). Projects have been identified based upon consideration of asset condition data, performance outcomes and adopted strategies and masterplans.
• What is Council’s long-term commitment?

• Council's focus and long-term commitment for the next financial year is long-term financial sustainability, working hard to find efficiencies for the community and delivering 'best value' services.

• Will there be an increase to my rates in the 2025/26 financial year?

• There is no rate rise this year above the rate peg that is set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

• What is a rate peg?

• The rate peg is the maximum amount Council can increase general rates each year, as set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). For 2025/26, Council’s rate peg is 3.9% and will not increase beyond this limit.

• Is there a Special Rate Variation next 2025/26 financial year period?

• No.

• Will a Special Rate Variation be included in future budgets?

• No decision has been made regarding a Special Rate Variation (SRV). In the draft operational Plan and Budget 2025/2026 the action is to begin a formal evaluation process that will consider all available options to address the growing pressures on Council’s finances and to maintain the services and infrastructure that our community expects.

  Future Council discussions may include consideration of a special rate variation. This would require extensive consultation with the community before any application to IPART was made. Other options may include an increase to grant revenue, a reduction in service levels and other efficiencies. After all this work, if it was determined an SRV was required and approved by IPART, it may be from 1 July 2027.
• What about the concept of 'closing the gap' through grants?

• Grants do help close our community infrastructure gap, but they don’t close our operating gap. A $5 million grant for a park lets us deliver a valuable community asset - but the ongoing maintenance, renewal, and service delivery costs of that park fall on our operating budget in future years. That’s why it’s important the LTFP shows the true long-term financial picture -even if the optics seem harsh in the short term.

Delivery Program

• What is the Delivery Program?

• The Delivery Program outlines the key priorities and services Council will deliver over the next four years. It turns the community’s long-term goals into actionable commitments and guides Council’s work throughout its elected term.

Resourcing Strategy

• What is the Resourcing Strategy?

• The draft Resourcing Strategy explains how Council will manage its finances, workforce and assets to support service delivery and long-term planning. It includes:

  • Long Term Financial Plan 2025-2035
  • Asset Management Strategy 2025-2035
  • Workforce Management Plan 2025-2029

Operational Plan & Budget

• What is the Operational Plan & Budget?

• The draft Operational Plan and Budget focus on the next financial year. It includes detailed deliverables, services and projects for 2025/26, along with the annual budget, revenue policy, and fees and charges.

• Why do we need an Operational Plan?

• All Councils in NSW are required to have an Operational Plan and budget which addresses community priorities, supports the commitments in the Delivery Program and ensures the Council remains financially sustainable, responsible and accountable.

  The Operational Plan is a core component of the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework. It is a companion document to Council's Delivery Program which provides an overview of the priorities and core business to be delivered by Council between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
• What key factors were considered in developing the Operational Plan?

• In developing the draft Operational Plan and Budget we consider key factors including:

  • Priority actions in adopted strategies and plans
  • Current or emerging issues that may be impacting, or have the potential to impact, the community, economy, environment or the Council
  • Available resources
  • Risks attached to undertaking an activity, or not undertaking an activity, in any given year.
  • Outcomes of service reviews
  Results of community engagement, including our Community Satisfaction Survey
• Why is capital grant revenue not shown in operating results before capital grants?

• Capital grants are excluded from the 'Operating Result before Capital' in accordance with the Local Government Code of Accounting Practice. This approach ensures that Council’s underlying financial sustainability is transparently reported - reflecting our ability to fund core services without relying on one-off or externally sourced capital funding.

Public Exhibition Period

• When is the Public Exhibition period?

• Public exhibition period to take place for a period of 28 days. It will open at 4:45pm on Wednesday 16 April and will close at 4.30pm on Tuesday 20 May 2025.

• Where can I find the documents and have my say?

• All community members and other interested stakeholders are invited to make a written submission with any feedback or suggestions.

  Associated documentation may be viewed:

  • Document Library on this page
  • Council’s Customer Service Counter, Civic Centre, 68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale NSW 2577, between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday
  • Councils Libraries

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  Only written submissions can be considered, and these must be received by Council before 4.30pm on Tuesday 20 May 2025 by:

  • Online Submission Form (on the Participate Wingecarribee project page)
  • Emailed to mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au
  • Hand delivered to Council's Civic Centre at 68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale NSW 2577
  • Posted to Wingecarribee Shire Council, PO Box 141, Moss Vale NSW 2577

  Please note that any submissions may be included in the report to Council.

• I’ve made a submission, what happens next?

• All submissions received will be carefully considered.

  Feedback may result in changes being made to the draft documents prior to a report being prepared for Council.

  You will be notified again, prior to Council considering the matter, which will include a link to the Council report containing a summary of submissions and how feedback was considered.