Councillor Connect - 26 June 2025 - Councillor Simon Daly

After seeking community feedback, this week Council approved important planning and budget reports known as the 'Integrated Planning and Reporting' or IP&R documents...


Councillor Simon Daly.

Authorised by Councillor Simon Daly.

26 June 2025

After seeking community feedback, this week Council approved important planning and budget reports known as the ‘Integrated Planning and Reporting’ or IP&R documents. These documents cover capital works planned for 2025-26, plus rates and fees and charges from July 1st 2025 for the financial year.

Councillors unanimously voted for a 4.9% rate increase, as set by IPART. This was the only practical option available, enabling Council to do key work in 2025-26, yet we are unable to do everything.

Capital works planned for 2025-26 include renewal of bridges at Murray’s Creek at Buckajo Road, Dignams Creek, Wallagoot Lane (Rixon’s) and the Cuttagee Bridge replacement. Upgrades are also planned for George Brown Oval club house, amenities at Quarantine Bay, Bega War Memorial swimming pool redevelopment, Merimbula Boardwalk replacement, six playgrounds, the Bega Sporting Complex, improvements to the Central Waste Facility as well road reseals, kerb and guttering and culvert restorations and much more.

Fees for Council’s Early Education Services including long day care at Bandara and Eden Early Learning Centre, and pre-school services at all three centres have been kept low. These services are vital to working families and our economy particularly with current cost of living challenges. Keeping fees low makes a big difference.

Additionally, fees and charges at our libraries will remain affordable, ensuring these important community hubs can continue providing home library deliveries, tech help, adult literacy and numeracy support, maths and homework tuition and more.

Council also endorsed the Draft Use of Public Land Policy, which had previously been exhibited, and caused upset in the community. The revised policy reducing fees for small stallholders from $60 to $29. Non-profit groups are fee exempt, allowing them to host events without high costs, a message I heard consistency from the community and echoed by the Bega Chamber of Commerce, Eden Whale Festival and others.

Council’s upcoming July meeting will see Councillors consider adopting the Affordable Housing Contribution Policy, and I’m expecting a report on the State Government’s feedback on a Local Approvals Policy (LAP) to support more crisis accommodation in the shire.

As always, if you’d like to chat, please get in touch with me at SDaly@begavalley.nsw.gov.au

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