FAQs
- Rates: yearly charges paid by property owners to fund general council services.
- Waste and other annual charges: regular fees such as Domestic Waste Management Charge and other statutory annual charges.
- Fees and charges: payments collected for using council services such as Development Applications, hiring a community hall etc.
- Government grants from Federal and State Government: funding provided from higher levels of government for particular projects, services or infrastructure.
- Developer contributions: payments from developers to help fund roads, parks and infrastructure needed in new developments.
- Income from Council assets: money from items council owns, including rent from buildings or leasing on land.
- Interest earned: investment earnings from Council's available cash.
- Borrowings: loans the council takes out to fund large projects for assets with a long lifetime which are repaid over time.
- Council savings/reserves: money set aside from past surpluses or other statutory restrictions to fund future projects or as required by Council resolution.
- Sale of land or assets: one off income from selling council owned land, buildings or equipment.
What if IPART or Council come back with a different rate figure?
The two versions of the Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan forward plan for the allowable rate increase with the 3.8% rate peg applied in Scenario 1: Base Case (no special variation), and the maximum allowable rate increase with the 39.9% incorporating the 3.8% rate peg applied in Scenario 2: Special variation approved.
The gives us the range to work within for the forward planning of the Integrated Planning and Reporting strategic documents, that are required to be adopted by 30 June 2026, ahead of the final decision of IPART and Council.
Why is the Wollombi Road Upgrade Project included in the Works Plan when you say it isn't funded by rates?
The Wollombi Road Upgrade is funded through a combination of funds from the NSW Accelerated Infrastructure Fund, the Commonwealth’s Housing Support Program - Community Enabling Infrastructure Program, the State Voluntary Planning Agreement Funding Program, developer contributions and contributions from Hunter Water.
The Wollombi Road Upgrade is included in our Works Program as part of the Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan. Multiple funding sources are included in these strategic documents such as developer contributions and state and federal government grants. Wollombi Road Upgrade is not receiving funding from Council's operational budget which is the bucket of funds collected by rates.
What are the funding sources for the Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan?
Funding sources include:
Why are there two versions of the Draft 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.
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 focuses on undertaking the minimum rehabilitation and maintenance works required for asset maintenance.
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.