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Cabonne Council, like many regional councils across NSW and Australia, has found it increasingly difficult to achieve financial sustainability and meet the integrated Planning and Reporting Guidelines.
Following is a Mayoral Address by Cr Kevin Beatty:
“Council is facing increasing challenges in achieving long‑term financial sustainability. As part of responding to these challenges, Council has been considering whether a Special Rate Variation (SRV) may be required in the future. Like many rural and regional councils, these pressures are driven by limited revenue growth, rising service delivery costs, and the need to maintain a large and ageing asset base.
“At the time of preparing the business paper for the 28 April 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting, Council was acutely aware of the significant upheaval and instability affecting global, national and regional economies.
These conditions are largely being driven by ongoing conflict in the Middle East and associated energy market shocks. At present, it remains unclear whether these impacts will be short‑term disruptions, medium‑term economic disturbances, or longer‑term structural challenges with potentially serious consequences.
“Given this heightened and ongoing uncertainty, Council resolved not to proceed with an application to NSW IPART for a Special Rate Variation in 2027. Instead, Council has deferred this important decision for a further 18 months, allowing for consideration of a potential application in 2028.
“While Council’s financial sustainability challenges are both serious and pressing, it is critical that the community has a clear and thorough understanding of the implications of both pursuing an SRV and choosing not to pursue a rate increase. This includes the likely impacts on Council’s medium‑ to long‑term service levels, asset maintenance and asset condition. Undertaking this work in the current economic environment would be extremely complex and challenging given the level of uncertainty.
“Extending the consultation and information‑sharing phase over a longer period will help improve community understanding of Council’s financial position and challenges.
It will also provide Council with greater capacity to balance future decision‑making nagainst the currently unknown medium‑ to long‑term economic impacts of the conflict in the Middle East, including Council’s ability to operate, maintain and renew assets, and continue delivering services during this period of uncertainty.
“To further support community understanding, Council will release a series of factual videos explaining Council’s finances and how they operate. These videos will provide greater transparency about the financial pressures Council faces and the choices involved in long‑term financial planning.
“For more information and to stay connected, visit the Have Your Say Cabonne page and register for updates https://haveyoursay.cabonne.nsw.gov.au/future-ready-cabonne.”