Council Meeting Update – 18 December 2024

Published on 18 December 2024

• Staff have been congratulated by Council on a $3.47 million improvement from a forecasted $4.77 million to a $1.32 million deficit at tonight’s council meeting. This improvement is supported by $5.3 million increase in total cash and cash equivalents, and an increase in income for the 2023-2024 financial year.

  Furthermore, the NSW Audit Office has issued an Unqualified Opinion on the 2023-2024 Financial Statements, indicating that independent auditors consider the statements to truly and fairly reflect Council’s financial position. This is a substantial improvement from the 2021-2022 financial year when the NSW Audit Office issued a Disclaimer of Opinion Audit Report and the 2022-2023 financial year when a Qualified Audit Opinion was issued.The signoff of three financial audits within a period of approximately 17 months is testament to the hard work of Council’s Financial Services Team and contractors, in collaboration with the external audit teams and under the guidance of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee.

• Council has given both the Wee Waa Community and Business Centre and the Boggabri Civic Centre projects the green light to move into the next phase in 2025. Extensive community consultation has been undertaken on both projects with both communities having their say on the designs of each facility.

  The Wee Waa Community and Business Centre design has been endorsed and the development application process will now commence. The design features two community rooms, two office spaces, a kiosk and kitchen area, storage and toilets. Funding for the $3.36 million project will be sourced from government grants and developer contributions.
  Meanwhile the Boggabri Civic Centre design, which features a community hall, library, meeting room space, storage rooms, a sports room, grassed courtyard and toilet amenities. These designs will now proceed to public exhibition for final community feedback which will be reported back to Council alongside a further report on the financial implications for Council to consider.

• Maitland Street, between Killarney Street and Bowen Street, will become a 40km/h zone after Council supported reducing the speed limit in the area tonight. 183 community members provided feedback during the public exhibition period, with 81% supporting the proposed change.

  This reduced speed limit will create a safer road environment for all road users, in particular pedestrians, cyclists and children.
  Road users can expect to see the new speed limit implemented by March 2025. Council will provide more updates to ensure all road users are aware of when the changes are implemented.

• As requested in a notice of motion by Councillor Roberts-Garnsey a report providing an update on the status of our roads was presented to Council. The report details how Council currently prioritises the level of service provided to different roads across the shire, the extent of the service backlog including gravel resheeting, rehabilitation, and reseals, and details of the current outstanding flood claims which equates to $15.15 million.
  Council is responsible for maintaining a significant length of roadway across the Narrabri Shire. Tonight’s report highlighted the challenges faced by Council when it comes to maintaining this sheer volume of roadways, in particular when circumstances outside of Councils control such as flooding occurs. Council will continue to source and apply for grant funding and is committed to exploring all funding avenues when available to increase the kilometres of road maintained annually.