Federation Council has endorsed its 2025/26 budget, which includes a 19 per cent increase to general rates approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
General manager Adrian Butler told last week’s extraordinary meeting that in order to address council’s financial sustainability challenge, the plan focussed on maintaining renewing existing assets rather than new assets, “on needs before wants”.
“The plans provide increased investment in maintaining and renewing our road infrastructure, repairing potholes and renewing roads before they fall apart, fixing cracks and trip hazards on footpaths, and more regular grading of unsealed roads,” Mr Butler said.
In response to community feedback during the exhibition period, an increase to water and sewer fees and charges was reduced from the proposed 5-8 per cent to 2.4 per cent.
Of 112 respondents, 65 per cent wanted a more moderate increase to fees pending completion of the strategic planning project, even if that meant higher fees in future years.
“Whilst council does need to build reserves over time to renew water and sewer infrastructure, given the current cost of living pressures across the broader population, the feedback from our own community on cost of living pressures, and the planned increase to general rates and the results of this polling question, it is recommended to reduce the increase in water and sewer fees to 2.4 per cent, from between 5 and 8 per cent,” Mr Butler said.
Councillors Derek Schoen and David Bott opposed the 19 general rate increase suggesting a lower increase of 14 per cent with 5 per cent banked and an increase to water and sewerage fees.
The two councillors proposed an amendment to the motion following a public forum address where Corowa resident Robert Pearce spoke of the concerns associated with existing utilities infrastructure.
Cr Pat Bourke and Rowena Black emphasised that the consultation period with the public, the time-consuming task of justifying and securing IPART approval, and farmers and other road users still concerned about potholes and poor condition of roads necessitated the full 19 per cent general rate increase.
Councillors David Harrison and Richard Nixon were on extended leave, Crs Schoen and Bott voted against the motion, which was passed 5:2.
The meeting also saw the reintroduction of the Community Grants Program of $40,000 with details still to be considered.
During the consultation period, respondents were asked if council had responded to the community’s priorities adequately with 162 respondents.
Three-quarters agreed the proposed actions being taken would address the identified priorities, the remainder suggested additional action was needed to increase the opening hours of the Corowa and other tips; more focus on water and stormwater management; focus on customer service; replacement of Yarrawonga Mulwala Bridge.
Other suggestions included better financial management, flood management and mitigation, more user-friendly communication, more walking paths to encourage fitness and wellbeing, water availability and quality, economic development to rejuvenate shops and rates reduction.
The Future Federation 2040: Community Strategy Plan was also adopted following community consultation and after a number of changes were endorsed resulting from community feedback.