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Councillor Connect - 5 June 2025 - Councillor Helen O'Neil

Thank you to everyone who joined the Shaping the Future community meetings over the last fortnight...

Councillor Helen O'Neil.

Authorised by Councillor Helen O’Neil.

5 June 2025

Thank you to everyone who joined the Shaping the Future community meetings over the last fortnight. I saw people from every part of the Shire, working through the financial challenges facing Council, and priorities for the years ahead including in waste and water services, roads and recreation.

It takes a lot to voluntarily give up an evening for a discussion on accounting and infrastructure, but these face-to-face discussions are super valuable for me – and my fellow Councillors – who next month will vote on how your rates, fees and charges are spent to provide services next year. Councillors are looking at some confronting trade-offs and your input will help resolve them.

Some residents have been looking online at the massive documentation that makes up Council’s four year and 10-year plans, and I hope they too have sent feedback.

The plans are based on raising around $110 million in revenue from rates, waste, water and sewage charges, plus interest, in the next year with grants on top of this.

We are heavily dependent on grants from the national and state governments and are budgeting about $67 million for these, so we can get on with projects including the Merimbula Boardwalk, Cuttagee Bridge and Bega War Memorial Swimming pool. Grants are also crucial to our essential work on roads and bridges.

We need more road and footpath upgrades, investment in galleries and libraries, and a better Bega Saleyards. But we can’t deliver these without more grants, or a better share of Federal tax revenues. Right now, the election commitments from our local MP Kristy McBain for the pool and the urgently needed early childhood centre in Eden are a big help.

Rates won’t increase beyond the 4.9 per cent capped by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal this year which we know matters. And yes, we are continuing to find efficiencies in the way we operate.

A big shout out to Bermagui – over 50 people came to the Surf Lifesaving club (way more than elsewhere!). I am proud to be part of a town with such active community members.

Please feel free to get in touch with me at HONeil@begavalley.nsw.gov.au

© Bega Valley Shire Council 2025

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