Affordability is the focus of Nambucca Shire Council's 2019-20 budget, which has balanced the General Fund while delivering good improvements to roads, bridges and community infrastructure.
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Nambucca Shire Mayor Rhonda Hoban said the budget adopted last week strikes the right balance between investing in infrastructure the community needs whilst keeping the average rate increase to 2.7 per cent which is what the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has assessed as the indexed increase in councils' costs.
"Council has worked hard to get its General Fund in a balanced position and still invest in the strong capital works program our community needs and deserves," Cr Hoban said.
"The big bucks in road rehabilitation are going into the continuation of work along Mann Street ($300,000) in Nambucca Heads, Yarrawonga Street ($123,000) in Macksville, Hallidise Street ($128,000) in Nambucca Heads, Coronation Road ($130,000) in Congarinni North, Bellingen Road ($320,000) near Bowraville and Old Coast Road ($160,000) in Nambucca Heads near the waste transfer station.
"We are also extending Council's sealed road network to include a 2.5 kilometre stretch on Mitchells Road as far as Echidna Road and on Lower Buccrabendinni Road.
"Property owners on these two roads made a financial contribution to partner with Council and the NSW Government to fund these projects."
All in all it is a frugal budget as we did not want to increase rates by more than the rate peg and yet it manages to deliver quite a lot to the community
- Mayor Rhonda Hoban
She said another great infrastructure project was the completion of the cycleway between Macksville and Nambucca Heads.
"We have been able to budget $980,000 for this project thanks to a grant from Transport for NSW, so no ratepayer dollars have been needed."
The council will be replacing five aged timber bridges across the shire with longer lasting concrete bridges for a total cost of $1,728,000. These include Fischers Bridge at Tamban, Allgomera Creek No 2 Bridge at Allgomera, Argues Bridge at Upper Taylors Arm, Valla Bridge at Valla and Stinging Tree Bridge at Argents Hill.
The mayor said the council was also investing in the infrastructure needed to support the new Macksville Hospital with a $350,000 budget allocation towards its water and sewer connections.
"It is pleasing to see local businesses benefit from the work here with NorthPipe Constructions, Fortade Earthmoving and Hughes Tree Care just some of the local companies involved in the hospital project.
"All in all it is a frugal budget as we did not want to increase rates by more than the rate peg and yet it manages to deliver quite a lot to the community thanks in part to some timely grant funding."
Along with approving the 2019-20 budget, the Council adopted a revised 10-year long-term financial plan which charts Council's long-term financial stability and how it will meet the Community Strategic Plan.
