Date

Wednesday, 29 June 2022

Release

Strong community engagement during public exhibition 
 
Shellharbour City Council last night unanimously endorsed a suite of key planning documents, including its 2022-2023 budget.
 
The documents include the Community Strategic Plan 2022-2032, Delivery Program 2022-2026 and Operational Plan 2022-2023, Local Strategic Planning Statement 2022-2042 and Resourcing Strategy 2022-2032. 
 
These planning documents are part of the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework and set out Council’s strategic direction for the city. 
 
They outline how Council will deliver on the expectations of the community in alignment with the Community Strategic Plan (CSP) and detail the current and future plans for Council’s service areas, operational functions and capital works program. 
 
The Operational Plan has a strong focus on financial sustainability and asset renewal, supported by a detailed budget that sets out rates, fees, and charges for the year. 
 
Budget summary 2022-2023: 
•    Operational Expenditure - $185.30M  
•    Capital Works - $31.36M  
o    Renewal projects - $20.12M 
o    New projects - $11.24M 
 
Key projects: 
•    Tripoli Way extension (planning and approvals phase) 
•    Warilla Beach rock revetment wall (seawall renewal project) 
•    Continued progress of The Waterfront, Shell Cove project 
•    Sportsfield amenity renewals at Albion Oval (Albion Park Rail) and Panorama Oval (Oak Flats). 
•    Reddall Reserve promenade renewal  
•    New Warilla dog agility park  
•    Additional sporting field at Myimbarr Community Park  
•    McDonald Park netball court resurfacing (Albion Park Rail) 
•    Working towards Net Zero targets 
•    Marina Services Centre construction (Shell Cove) 
 
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer said the budget and associated planning documents demonstrated Council’s continued commitment to financial sustainability as well as improving the city’s amenities, facilities and services. 
 
Mayor Homer said that like many councils, the preparation of the 2022-2023 budget was challenging due to the changing environment caused by the pandemic. However, he said the city remained in a comfortable financial position. 
 
“Local governments were invited to apply for an additional special rate variation for the 2022-2023 financial year, however Shellharbour City Council has chosen not to pursue this as an option for this year as our financial position remains sound. 
 
“In this budget, Council will deliver projects of significant importance to our community, with a strong focus on renewal projects and investment into new assets and infrastructure. 
 
“We will also continue to actively pursue grants to further support our community and to boost Council’s capacity to stimulate local jobs and the local economy,” he said. 
 
“Outstanding community engagement” 

 
Mayor Homer sincerely thanked the community for engaging with the Council while the documents were on public exhibition. 
 
“I was very impressed with the high level of interest and involvement on from our residents. This is exactly what Council needs to understand what the community wants. The high level of engagement was outstanding,” Mayor Homer said. 
 
“Council staff worked hard, as they do every year, to reach as many people in the community as possible so that they could have a say in their city’s future. 
 
“We reached 1763 people on Facebook, had 637 visits to our Let’s Chat page (with 11 contributions), 589 document downloads received 25 formal submissions. We also had dozens of people attend our in-person ‘Ideas Lounge’ sessions. 
 
“It was fantastic to see so many people wanting to get involved and have their say,” Mayor Homer said. 
 
Media enquiries: Kelli Wells 0448 361 008. 
 

Last updated : Tue 5 Jul 2022