Draft Delivery Program Operational Plan & Budget 2025/26

What does Council have planned for the future?

Council invites the community to provide feedback on the Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan and Budget - 2025/26, which also includes Council's proposed Fees and Charges.

The draft Plan outlines how Council is working towards achieving the community’s aspirations and long-term vision for our city. This vision is outlined in our Draft Community Strategic Plan - Shoalhaven 2035 which is also currently on public exhibition here.

Draft Documents

Council’s actions for the coming financial year are outlined in the Delivery Program and Operational Plan. Council’s proposed waste and water fees are included in Part 1 and the remainder of Council’s fees in Part 2.

You can access the draft documents by viewing them in the Document Library on this web this page. We'd like your feedback on the:

• Draft Delivery Program Operational Plan & Budget 2025/26
• Draft Fees & Charges 2025/26 – Part 1
• Draft Fees & Charges 2025/26 – Part 2

Shoalhaven Water

Fee increases to cover rising costs, new projects and infrastructure upgrades are being proposed by Shoalhaven Water in the draft budget 2025-26. The increase is part of a 10-year plan to ensure that critical water and sewer infrastructure is maintained and future-proofed for the community.

Financial Sustainability Program

Over the last 24 months, there have been significant changes made by Council to reduce its operating deficit, including an operational restructure, service reviews, changes to fleet vehicle arrangements, property sales and reduction in operating hours of pools, libraries and facilities. More information on Council's financial sustainability program visit Council's website here.

To increase revenue, fees and charges have been reviewed. A special rate variation proposal is under review by IPART and, if approved, will take effect from 1 July 2025. If the application is unsuccessful, the Council's rate increase will be reduced from 12% to 3.8%.

Proposed Capital Works Program

As part of the exhibition, a full list of the proposed 2025/26 Capital Works Program is included in the Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan and Budget - 2025/26 which can be downloaded from the Document Library or accessed here. The draft $135.7m capital works program under the 12% rate option includes:

Roads & transport program including:

• Wool Road, Old Erowal Bay
• Illaroo Road, North Nowra
• East Nowra Sub-Arterial design works
• Murrays Bridge, Conjola
• Myola Active Transport pathways

Water & wastewater program including:

• Bamarang to Milton Water Pipeline Project
• Jervis Bay Territory Pipeline
• Culburra Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades
• Moss Vale Road Urban Release Area water and sewer development

Waste & recycling program including:

• Materials Recovery Facility
• New landfill cell construction

Council's current Resourcing Strategy 2022-26 was adopted in December 2024 and is available from Council's website here. The Resourcing Strategy outlines how Council will manage and allocate its resources (finances, assets, people and information management and technology) to implement the Delivery Program.

How to get involved:

There are three easy ways to have your say:

• Share your feedback via the online feedback form below.
• Emailing: council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au and type ‘DPOP Feedback’ in the subject line.
• Mail to: Chief Executive Officer, PO Box 42, Nowra, NSW 2541.
• If you would like assistance providing feedback over the phone, please call Council on 1300 293 111.

All feedback must be received by 5pm on Thursday, 29 May 2025 to be considered by Council.

Please note that feedback submitted to Council on this matter may be open for public inspection without notifying the correspondents.

Printed copies of the draft documents will also be available to view at one of Council's Libraries and the Nowra City Admin Centre and the Ulladulla Branch Office.