Draft Annual Business Plan & Budget 2025-2026

The District Council of Grant’s Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2025-2026 has been released and Council are now inviting the community to provide feedback on the proposed works and services.

Chief Executive Officer Darryl Whicker said the Draft Plan balances responsible financial management with investing in key infrastructure and strategic projects, whilst also considering the costs of inflation and drought conditions faced by the community.

“In preparing the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget, the consideration of the current economic environment and consequent pressures on our communities has been at the forefront of Council’s decision making,” Mr Whicker said.

“In the new financial year, we intend to invest approximately $4.6 million in renewing our key assets to deliver services and maintain our infrastructure that meets our community’s needs and expectations,”

To achieve these key maintenance and upgrade projects, the Draft 2025-2026 Annual Business Plan and Budget proposes a rate revenue increase of 3.75% in line with Council’s Long-Term Financial Plan.

The Draft Plan also outlines an approximate $20.489 million operating expenditure which includes an allocation of $3.179 million to maintain Council’s road network. A further $14.2 million is proposed for total capital works.

A highlight is the proposed $7.426 million capital investment in the Mount Gambier Districts Livestock Exchange 2030 Transformation Project, a key focus area under the Economy Goal in Council’s Strategic Plan 2024 - 2034. The Saleyards Transformation Project, estimated to value $15.4 million, is intended to be carried out over multiple years.

“The Saleyards are a premium selling centre and Council is committed to continuing to support primary producers in an auction environment to set best price. We will continue to lobby for funding or consider reducing the scope of the project to spend no more than $7.7 million of Council’s funds,” Mr Whicker explained.

Other key projects proposed to be funded in the new financial year include:

• $89,000 towards the second year of funding Telstra Mobile Towers;
• $30,000 to creating a Community Development Strategy which aims to support the growth of community development initiatives, arts, culture and community group support throughout townships;
• $100,000 to developing Connective Coastal, River and Walking, and Bike Trail strategies over multiple years; and
• $25,000 to implementing and advancing Coastal Adaptation Strategy initiatives.

Mayor Kylie Boston reiterated that the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget reflects Council’s commitment to maintain effective services for the community while progressing towards shared long-term goals.

“Council recognises the financial pressures many in our community are facing and have carefully considered the delivery of services and projects to our community against the proposed rate increase,” Mayor Boston said.

“We want to work together with our communities and to create an environment where we can all live, work and play,”

“I encourage all residents to take the opportunity to review the draft document and share their feedback."

Community members are invited to review the Draft 2025-2026 Annual Business Plan and Budget and have their say. Feedback can be submitted by:

• Completing the online feedback form via Your Say DCG (yoursaydcg.com.au/)
• Completing a hard copy feedback form available at the District Council of Grant Principal Office, 324 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier and Port MacDonnell Community Complex, 5-7 Charles Street, Mount Gambier
• Emailing info@dcgrant.sa.gov.au
• Writing a letter addressed to the District Council of Grant at PO Box 724, Mount Gambier SA 5290

Consultation closes at 5:00pm Tuesday 10 June 2025.

Interested community members may attend a public meeting on Monday 16 June 2025 between 4:00pm and 5:00pm in the Council Chambers at 324 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier, to further review and discuss the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget with Council representatives.

Council has considered the impact of increased valuations on ratepayers and the cost of living. In response, Council is looking to implement the following key items:

• Maintain the 10% discount rate in the dollar for Primary Production property ratepayers;
• Increase the minimum rate to $700 (+$20 / 2.94%);
• Maintain differential rates by land use category.

The proposed general rate increase is 3.75%.

Council have scheduled to invest $14.2 million into capital works projects in the 2025-2026 financial year. These projects fall under the following categories with the associated funding amount:

• $475,000 - Building Program
• $20,000 - Structures and Furniture
• $220,000 - Information and Communications Technology Upgrades
• $3,437,060 - Transport Infrastructure Program
  • $1,511,251 - Road resheeting projects
  • $1,552,395 - Road construction projects
  • $373,414 - Footpath and kerbing projects
• $65,000 - Community Wastewater Management Systems
• $1,245,000- Mount Gambier Regional Airport
• $7,521,300 - Mount Gambier & District Saleyards
• $1,178,000 - Feet Management and Plant Replacement Program
  • $1,093,000 - Fleet management
  • $80,000 - Plant replacement

The Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget outlines a total capital expenditure budget of $14,156,300. $4,627,000 will be used to renew existing assets and $9,529,000 will be spent on new / upgraded assets.

Further details on the Capital Works Program can be found on pages 17 to 21 of the Draft 2025-2026 Annual Business Plan and Budget.

The District Council of Grant is investing the following funding into key projects for our community:

• $89,000 - Telstra Towers (year 2 of 3 contribution)
• $88,000 - Stage 2 and 3 of the Local Heritage Survey (Council wide identification survey, recommendations and detailed item assessment)
• $30,000 - Creation of a Community Development Strategy
• $100,000 - Development of Connective Coastal / River and Walking / Bike Trail strategies (multi-year project)
• $25,000 - Coastal Adaptation Strategy recommendations and actions
• $30,000 - Planning and Design Code amendments

Council provides essential services to our community which incur a service charge. The following service charges are proposed to be implemented in the 2025-2026 financial year:

• Mobile Garbage Bin Collection Service*
  • $315 (+$15.00)
• Community Waste Management System
  • $645 (+$30.00) - Vacant Land
  • $755 (+$30.00) - Occupied

Council is required to collect a Regional Landscape Levy on all rateable properties within the district. For the 2025-2026 financial year Council is required to collect, on behalf of the Limestone Coast Landscape Board an amount of $729,132 (a 3.2% increase as instructed by the Board).

*For the second time, the Draft 2025-2026 Annual Business Plan and Budget details a proposal to expand the current Mobile Garbage Bin Collection Service to an additional 33 properties. This is to allow Council to continue to grow the capacity of the Service in the broader interests of our community. Further details of the proposal can be found on pages 30 to 31 and in Appendix 3 of the Draft Plan.

The District Council of Grant will continue to allocate funds for sponsorships, donations and community support.

It is proposed that an increase of funding is made to approximately $232,109 (+13,672). This will be made available to various community groups and events in 2025-2026.

A major ongoing expense that Council is committed to each year is the maintenance of the road network. There are approximately 1,500km’s of sealed and unsealed roads which require regular maintenance.

The District Council of Grant has allocated a total of $3.179M (excluding depreciation of $3M) to maintain this road network and service standards.