IP&R - Community thanked for input into strategic plans
Published on 04 July 2025
Council’s future strategic plans for the next four years have now been approved and are ready for implementation.
These plans, known as the Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) documents, have been formally endorsed by Councillors at the June Council Meeting and will form the foundation of Council’s strategy and planning for the next four years.
The documents — which include Council’s engagement strategies, delivery plans, operational plans, budgets, workforce management plans and financial sustainability plans — were thoroughly revised and refreshed for 2025 before being released for public consultation. There was a great turnout at the community roadshows, and all community feedback has been considered and incorporated where appropriate. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the consultation process.
Over 52 submissions were received - the high-level themes of concern included:
- Financial sustainability and governance (notably the Crago Mill project)
- Strategic planning and Village Masterplans (particularly Murrumbateman)
- Integration of the Parkwood development and its impact on Council services
- Road upgrades - particularly Marked Tree Road, Sutton Causeway, and Tallagandra Lane
- Footpaths and public transport connecting our villages and towns
- Council support for community assets
- Equitable service delivery across all villages
There were also many requests for improved services to support community activities such as youth programs, sporting facilities, pools, and waste management. Climate action, heritage protection, and emergency preparedness were also strong areas of concern.
Some issues raised fell outside Council’s remit; however, where possible, suggestions have been implemented.
Key new inclusions are:
- A new public toilet for Wee Jasper
- Completion of the Active Transport Strategy
- Funding for pre-planning work for the Murrumbateman BMX Pump Track
- Funding for improved engagement software to enhance Council’s community engagement and public consultation processes
- Council support for Gundaroo community assets
Submission Responses
A full breakdown of the 52 submissions and Council's response is available here(PDF, 345KB).
Here are links to supporting the documents that outline our road resealing and gravel re-sheeting capital works:
Council Rates
Rates have been set for 2025/26 and have increased by 4.1% in line with IPART rate capping limitations. Full details of the 2025/26 Fees and Charges are available on our Fees and Charges page.
Financial Sustainability Roadmap
The Draft Financial Sustainability Roadmap (FSR) – which outlines the financial challenges, Council’s vision, and our path to long-term financial sustainability - was endorsed at the June 2025 Council meeting. It is now on public exhibition until the end of July.
The Draft FSR has been developed to provide clear and transparent actions to address the financial sustainability of Council and includes:
- Financial Sustainability vision and objectives; and
- Activities to be undertaken across fours years of the roadmap
Community feedback is very important to us and helps ensure Council is delivering the services and infrastructure needed responsibly. The focus of the FSR is on making measurable improvement to Council’s financial position over the next four years. It aligns with the principles set out by the NSW Office of Local Government and IPART guidelines, incorporating prudent financial management, service delivery efficiency, and community-focused investment.
We encourage you to read through the draft FSR and share your thoughts and feedback - have your say!
New Executive Services Directorate
As part of our financial sustainability plans, Council will establish a new, temporary Executive Services Directorate for two years. This team will focus on delivering business improvement initiatives, maximising returns from Council’s commercial properties, and undertaking in-depth reviews of complex funding programs and contracts. They will also be responsible for evaluating progress and ensuring we stay on track with the Financial Sustainability Roadmap.
All the endorsed IP&R documents can be found on the IP&R page.
Further information about the community consultation results that were presented to Council can be found on page 111 of the June Council Meeting agenda papers.