Delivery Program and Operational Plan 2025/26

Council is inviting feedback on our draft Integrated Planning documents for 2025/26 and beyond. These documents outline how we plan to deliver services, manage spending, and prioritise projects across Ballina Shire and now we’re checking in with the community.

What’s on exhibition?

• Community Strategic Plan to provide detailed feedback on the CSP visit: yoursayballina.com.au/csp2035
• Delivery Program and Operational Plan
• Long Term Financial Plan and Budget
• Long Term Financial Plan Summary
• Fees and Charges
• Workforce Management Plan
• Asset Management Strategy

These plans guide Council’s day-to-day operations and long-term direction, covering services such as roads, parks, waste, water, footpaths, and community facilities.

We’re continuing our commitment to previously announced projects including:

• Alstonville Cultural Centre Upgrade
• Bridge Duplications - Fishery Creek Bridge at West Ballina and Canal Bridge at North Ballina
• Sharpes Beach Carpark Upgrade
• Ballina Pump Track

Proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV) from 2026/27

The cost of delivering services and looking after infrastructure like roads, footpaths and public buildings is rising faster than the income Council receives. This gap makes it harder to maintain the services and facilities our community relies on.

While we continue to be careful and conservative in how we manage our budget, Council is proposing a gradual rate increase from the 2026-27 financial year. This would support the delivery of essential services and help ensure long-term financial sustainability.

The proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV) would allow for:

• Increased investment in capital renewal including roads, footpaths, stormwater, open spaces, sporting fields, and community facilities.
• Improved operational funding to maintain public spaces, roads, community facilities, and support for initiatives in crime prevention, biodiversity, and waterways.

Over the four-year period (2026/27 to 2029/30), Council proposes to increase general rates by 6% per year (made up of an estimated 3.25% rate peg + 2.75% additional increase). This means by 2029/30, a typical residential ratepayer would pay approximately $166 more per year, or an additional $3.19 per week (see FAQs for more detail).

If approved by IPART, this increase would be built into the rate base and retained permanently.

Refer to the following pages in the Delivery Program and Operational Plan for full details:

• SRV impact on ratepayers (pages 11–12)
• Comparison scenarios (pages 51–54)
• Revenue policy detail (pages 59–61)
• Appendix B: funding breakdown with and without SRV (pages 76-84).

How to get involved

• Review the draft documents
• Read the SRV FAQs on this page for more information about the rate variation proposal
• Ask a question below - responses will be published on this page
• Submit your feedback using the online form below.

Submissions close: Friday 6 June 2025