Community & Business
1 June, 2024
Gilgandra Shire Council unveils 2024/25 budget plans
Gilgandra Shire Council invites residents to review 2024/25 plans and budget.
Gilgandra Shire Council (GSC) has placed its draft delivery program and operational plan, and associated budget for the 2024/2025 financial year on public exhibition and is inviting residents to provide feedback.
The budget reflects an overall forecast deficit of $339,777 (after depreciation is deducted). The operational expenditure budget includes $43,947,529 in spending on services for the community. Council’s total forecast expenditure budget, inclusive of capital works is, $60,440,391.
GSC mayor Doug Batten says the capital works program is aspirational, “Council is excited to forecast a total capital works budget of $17,497,760, along with $43,947,529 towards services for the community for the 24/25 financial year. The budget includes infrastructure, activation and strategic projects that will have great community benefits, both now, and for future generations, promoting Gilgandra as a vibrant region with resilient and innovative infrastructures that capitalise on opportunities for economic growth.”
The budget shows council aspirations of growing the ‘Gilgandra Region’ towards a population of 5000, while ensuring our valuable services for the community continue. The critical infrastructure for growth supports this, and planning for challenges faced such as housing, health, road network, and technology and community resilience.
Some of the major capital works for 2024/25 include:
- National Park Road $900,000: Complete the construction of 12.5km bitumen seal on the unsealed sections of National Park Road, in addition to the unspent funds from the 2023/24 budget.
- Baronne Creek Crossing Upgrades $1.25 million: Replacing the Baronne Creek crossing on National Park Road.
- Development of Industrial Land Subdivision $7.205 million: Development of additional industrial land to meet current and future trade demands.
- Major IT upgrades $1.55 million: Modernising and rationalising council’s IT capacity, network communications, business continuity, and increasing community resilience in the event of a major natural disaster.
- Upgrade to Naden Drive $506,706: Undertake an upgrade and reconstruction of Naden Drive.
- Plant $910,200: Planned replacement of major plant, vehicles and key equipment across council’s fleet.
- Warren Road Medical Precinct $100,000: Undertake detailed planning of the Warren Road Medical Precinct extension into the Literature Institute Building (old library).
- Smart Water Meter Implementation $500,000: Planned modernisation of household water metre reading process to include smart meters across the network to improve efficiency.
- Additional Rural Road Renewals $295,204: Additional capital renewals of council’s road network set aside for this purpose on an annual basis.
- Water Fluoridisation $130,000: Replace discontinued fluoride dosing system at the water treatment plant.
- Tooraweenah Mains Replacement $100,000: Replacement of aging water mains in Tooraweenah.
- Sewerage Pump Station Upgrades $100,000: Upgrade of aged sewer pumps station infrastructure.
A number of strategic planning and activation projects have also been identified by council, including:
- Investigating child care options for the retention and attraction of council workforce needs.
- Growing our population ‘Towards 5000’.
- Undertaking a land use planning review.
- Developing a greening strategy.
- Delivering ongoing road restoration works from the multiple from the natural disaster claims.
- ‘Real Country Business Case’ and strategy development.
- Under The Gums major event.
- Developing plans of management for Tooraweenah and Armatree.
