Draft Delivery Program 2025-2029 and Operational Plan 2026-2027


Project update June 2026

Following the determination by IPART, Council was unsuccessful in its application for a Special Variation of rates for 2026/27.

Council previously prepared two Delivery Program and Operational Plans to be prepared for either outcome. The two versions were placed on public exhibition after an endorsement of Council in late May 2026.

Following the determination now in June 2026, this public exhibition will focus on Scenario 1: Base case of the Delivery Program 2025-2029 and Operational Plan 2026-2027. Scenario 2 is still available should you wish to read it.


Project background

The Delivery Program and Operational Plan are part of Council’s forward planning framework called Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R).

IP&R is how Council plans its work, delivers services, and reports back to the community. It makes sure Council is focusing on what matters most to the community and shows how we are doing over time.

This framework helps guide decisions, spending, and the services we provide.

All NSW councils are required to use IP&R under the Local Government Act 1993. The Office of Local Government provides guidelines to help councils follow this process.


How the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework works

The primary document is the Community Strategic Plan (CSP) which sets out the community’s long-term goals over 10 years. It is updated every four years after an election for a new term of Council.

To support the long-term CSP:

  • The Delivery Program sets out what Council will do over four years
  • The Operational Plan lists actions for each year

At Cessnock City Council, these are combined into one document and called the DPOP (Delivery Program and Operational Plan). Council's DPOP is reviewed each year to ensure the documents remain relevant and responsive.

The graphic below illustrates how the strategic documents link together.



Why are there two versions of the Delivery Program and Operational Plan on exhibition?

In February 2026, Council applied to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal NSW (IPART) for a special variation of rates. The result of IPARTs assessment is expected in June 2026.

As Council must adopt it's Operational Plan by 30 June each year according to the Local Government Act 1993, Council has prepared two versions to be ready for any outcome between Scenario 1 and Scenario 2.


Documents

Both documents are the Draft Delivery Program 2025-2029 incorporating the Operational Plan 2026-2027. The first version applies a rate increase of 3.8% (the rate peg) without the special variation as Scenario 1, and the second looks at the year ahead with the 39.9% special variation (incorporating the 3.8% rate peg) approved as Scenario 2.

Draft Delivery Program 2025-2029 incorporating the Operational Plan 2026-2027:

Council's draft Fees and Charges document also supports the Draft Delivery Program 2025-2029 incorporating the Operational Plan 2026-2027 by outlining the proposed pricing for Council services for the upcoming year. It is reviewed annually in line with the Operational Plan. You can read the draft Fees and Charges 2026-2027 below.


What are the key differences between the two versions?

The differences between the two focus on the level of investment for Council's Works Program. This includes road improvements such as resurfacing or intersection upgrades, shared pathways, drainage improvements and asset renewal works.


Scenario 1: Base case (no special variation)

Scenario 1 focuses on undertaking the minimum rehabilitation and maintenance works required for asset maintenance.

Highlights for 2026-2027

  • $51 million is invested in road works, including resealing regional and local roads, road rehabilitation and upgrades, as well as improvements to the Depot and Airport.
  • $20 million is allocated to drainage, flood management and waste services. This includes flood studies and plans, drainage upgrades, landfill development and closure, biodiversity offsets, and upgrades to the Waste Management Centre such as the landfill cell closure project.
  • $5 million is invested in building improvements and the replacement of vehicles, plant, and tools at the Works Depot and Administration Building. There is no change in this item between Scenario 1 and 2.
  • $1.3 million is allocated to community and recreation facilities, including upgrades to aquatic centres, cemeteries, libraries, community buildings, parks and reserves, playgrounds, and retaining walls.


Scenario 2: Special variation is approved

Scenario 2 focuses on progressing asset reconstruction, replacement and renewal that contributes towards addressing the maintenance back log. Scenario 2 supports improved community access and safety, service reliability and long-term preservation of Council assets while reducing future costs on deferred maintenance.

Highlights for 2026-2027

  • $69 million is invested in road works including road reconstructions, bridge replacements, carpark resurfacing and rehabilitation, gravel rehabilitation and re-sheeting, and local and regional road resealing as well as improvements to the Depot and Airport.
  • $28 million allocated to investigation, design and construction of drainage upgrades, kerb and gutter works, flood management areas identified in Council's Floodplain Management Strategy and upgrades to the Waste Management Centre such as the landfill cell closure project.
  • $5 million is invested in building improvements and the replacement of vehicles, plant, and tools at the Works Depot and Administration Building. There is no change in this item between Scenario 1 and 2.
  • $1.9 million invested in community and recreation facilities as included in Scenario 1 plus additional carpark and access improvements to parks and reserves, sports facility lighting/LED replacements and building refurbishments.


How to make a submission

Printed versions of the Delivery Program 2025-2029 and Operational Plan 2026-2027 are available for viewing at Cessnock Council Administration Building and Cessnock City Library.

Any views expressed in written submissions will be considered by Council before a final decision is made.

Submissions close 5:00pm on Wednesday 17 June 2026.


Project update June 2026

Following the determination by IPART, Council was unsuccessful in its application for a Special Variation of rates for 2026/27.

Council previously prepared two Delivery Program and Operational Plans to be prepared for either outcome. The two versions were placed on public exhibition after an endorsement of Council in late May 2026.

Following the determination now in June 2026, this public exhibition will focus on Scenario 1: Base case of the Delivery Program 2025-2029 and Operational Plan 2026-2027. Scenario 2 is still available should you wish to read it.


Project background

The Delivery Program and Operational Plan are part of Council’s forward planning framework called Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R).

IP&R is how Council plans its work, delivers services, and reports back to the community. It makes sure Council is focusing on what matters most to the community and shows how we are doing over time.

This framework helps guide decisions, spending, and the services we provide.

All NSW councils are required to use IP&R under the Local Government Act 1993. The Office of Local Government provides guidelines to help councils follow this process.


How the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework works

The primary document is the Community Strategic Plan (CSP) which sets out the community’s long-term goals over 10 years. It is updated every four years after an election for a new term of Council.

To support the long-term CSP:

  • The Delivery Program sets out what Council will do over four years
  • The Operational Plan lists actions for each year

At Cessnock City Council, these are combined into one document and called the DPOP (Delivery Program and Operational Plan). Council's DPOP is reviewed each year to ensure the documents remain relevant and responsive.

The graphic below illustrates how the strategic documents link together.



Why are there two versions of the Delivery Program and Operational Plan on exhibition?

In February 2026, Council applied to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal NSW (IPART) for a special variation of rates. The result of IPARTs assessment is expected in June 2026.

As Council must adopt it's Operational Plan by 30 June each year according to the Local Government Act 1993, Council has prepared two versions to be ready for any outcome between Scenario 1 and Scenario 2.


Documents

Both documents are the Draft Delivery Program 2025-2029 incorporating the Operational Plan 2026-2027. The first version applies a rate increase of 3.8% (the rate peg) without the special variation as Scenario 1, and the second looks at the year ahead with the 39.9% special variation (incorporating the 3.8% rate peg) approved as Scenario 2.

Draft Delivery Program 2025-2029 incorporating the Operational Plan 2026-2027:

Council's draft Fees and Charges document also supports the Draft Delivery Program 2025-2029 incorporating the Operational Plan 2026-2027 by outlining the proposed pricing for Council services for the upcoming year. It is reviewed annually in line with the Operational Plan. You can read the draft Fees and Charges 2026-2027 below.


What are the key differences between the two versions?

The differences between the two focus on the level of investment for Council's Works Program. This includes road improvements such as resurfacing or intersection upgrades, shared pathways, drainage improvements and asset renewal works.


Scenario 1: Base case (no special variation)

Scenario 1 focuses on undertaking the minimum rehabilitation and maintenance works required for asset maintenance.

Highlights for 2026-2027

  • $51 million is invested in road works, including resealing regional and local roads, road rehabilitation and upgrades, as well as improvements to the Depot and Airport.
  • $20 million is allocated to drainage, flood management and waste services. This includes flood studies and plans, drainage upgrades, landfill development and closure, biodiversity offsets, and upgrades to the Waste Management Centre such as the landfill cell closure project.
  • $5 million is invested in building improvements and the replacement of vehicles, plant, and tools at the Works Depot and Administration Building. There is no change in this item between Scenario 1 and 2.
  • $1.3 million is allocated to community and recreation facilities, including upgrades to aquatic centres, cemeteries, libraries, community buildings, parks and reserves, playgrounds, and retaining walls.


Scenario 2: Special variation is approved

Scenario 2 focuses on progressing asset reconstruction, replacement and renewal that contributes towards addressing the maintenance back log. Scenario 2 supports improved community access and safety, service reliability and long-term preservation of Council assets while reducing future costs on deferred maintenance.

Highlights for 2026-2027

  • $69 million is invested in road works including road reconstructions, bridge replacements, carpark resurfacing and rehabilitation, gravel rehabilitation and re-sheeting, and local and regional road resealing as well as improvements to the Depot and Airport.
  • $28 million allocated to investigation, design and construction of drainage upgrades, kerb and gutter works, flood management areas identified in Council's Floodplain Management Strategy and upgrades to the Waste Management Centre such as the landfill cell closure project.
  • $5 million is invested in building improvements and the replacement of vehicles, plant, and tools at the Works Depot and Administration Building. There is no change in this item between Scenario 1 and 2.
  • $1.9 million invested in community and recreation facilities as included in Scenario 1 plus additional carpark and access improvements to parks and reserves, sports facility lighting/LED replacements and building refurbishments.


How to make a submission

Printed versions of the Delivery Program 2025-2029 and Operational Plan 2026-2027 are available for viewing at Cessnock Council Administration Building and Cessnock City Library.

Any views expressed in written submissions will be considered by Council before a final decision is made.

Submissions close 5:00pm on Wednesday 17 June 2026.

Page last updated: 05 Jun 2026, 12:49 PM