Information pack
Asset conditions
Our public assets are owned by all of us. We want to hear from you so that we can manage them to a level that you find acceptable and affordable.
We want to understand what level of asset condition our community expects so we can set priorities for our long-term financial and asset plans that align with the needs of the community.
We’ll use your feedback to guide long-term plans for maintaining and improving these assets. Your choices will help us decide where to focus our budget and efforts.
Why are we doing this?
We manage and maintain assets worth over $5 billion for our community. Long-term planning is essential to make sure we can keep our assets in good shape for the future. It’s also a legal requirement for all councils in NSW to have long-term plans.
How do we rate our assets?
We regularly check the condition of our major assets to see how they are holding up. When we assess the condition of our assets we give them a rating. For the questions we are about to ask you, we are using a three-scale rating:
GOOD TO VERY GOOD SATISFACTORY POOR TO VERY POOR
Your input will guide how we prioritise spending to best meet the needs of our community.
For each type of asset, we’re sharing three important things:
Current Rating
This shows the condition of the assets right now. 01
02
Future Options
The extra funding needed to bring the assets to a higher standard.
03
Council’s Position
Our recommendation for what condition we aim to maintain and why we think it’s the best option.
Scan the QR code and take the survey Review the information and let us know if you agree with our position or prefer a different approach.
Regional roads take priority over local roads because they carry more traffic at higher speeds. Over the years, our roads have worsened due to a lack of funding for repairs. Heavy rain and flash floods also damage our roads.
In addition to the $50 million per year already spent on road maintenance, here are the options for improving road conditions:
GOOD: An extra $34.5 million per year for 10 years
All our roads would improve. The backlog of maintenance would shrink over time.
SATISFACTORY: An extra $15 million per year for 10 years
Good to very good
Poor to very poor
Roads mostly stay as they are now. Some roads in good condition would drop to satisfactory. The backlog won’t shrink, but more roads will stay in satisfactory or better condition.
POOR: No budget increase
The proportion of roads in poor condition will double. The backlog will keep growing.
COUNCIL’S POSITION
Aiming for a satisfactory condition is likely the most affordable option for our community and helps manage risks for residents. This allows for preventative maintenance and regular resealing to slow the deterioration of some roads. Over time more roads will move from good to satisfactory condition. We will keep applying for grants to improve our road network.
Bridges
Our region has 669 bridges. We are slowly replacing old timber bridges with concrete ones. Bridge replacements depend heavily on funding from State and Federal Governments. Funding programs can be unpredictable and change yearly.
Future options
We currently spend $8 million a year on bridges. We rely on external funding from the State and Federal Governments for bridge replacements.
GOOD: Keep the current budget of $8 million per year for 10 years All bridges will stay in good condition. We will need state or federal funding to replace timber bridges.
SATISFACTORY: Reduce the budget to $5.1 million per year for 10 years Bridges will stay in their current condition. We could not replace timber bridges.
POOR: Reduce the budget further over 10 years Bridges will worsen without repairs.
COUNCIL’S POSITION
Keeping our bridges in good condition is possible if we continue relying on state or federal funding to replace aging timber bridges.
footpaths and cycleWAYS
We are reviewing the condition of our footpaths and cycleways and working to maintain them as they are. We want to expand the network to meet future community needs, but this may not be affordable.
Future options
We currently spend $230,000 each year to maintain footpaths and cycleways. We have no funding to extend the network to meet future needs.
GOOD: An extra $850,000 per year for 10 years This would improve all existing footpaths and cycleways. We could also expand the network.
SATISFACTORY: Keep the current budget of $230,000 per year for 10 years
We can maintain footpaths and cycleways as they are. We cannot expand the network.
POOR: Reduce the budget further over 10 years Footpaths and cycleways will worsen. We cannot extend the network.
COUNCIL’S POSITION
Maintaining a satisfactory condition is likely the most affordable for our community. We understand that we won’t be able to expand our network with this level of funding. Council will keep applying for grants to improve footpaths and cycleways when they become available.
community buildings and toilets
We own, operate and maintain 320 community buildings. These buildings include public toilets, halls, community centres, men’s sheds, surf lifesaving clubs, sports buildings, showground buildings, libraries, council buildings, an art gallery, and an entertainment centre.
current rating
Future options
We spend $3.1 million per year on maintaining and renewing these facilities. This is not enough to keep them in their current condition.
Good to very good
38% 34%
Satisfactory
28%
Poor to very poor
GOOD: An extra $3.3 million per year for 10 years All community buildings will be brought to a good condition.
SATISFACTORY: An extra $1.4 million per year for 10 years Buildings will stay in their current condition.
POOR: No budget increase
More buildings will fall to a poor condition. Old buildings won’t be replaced unless we get external grants.
Council’s position
Aiming for satisfactory condition offers the most affordable benefits to the community and maintains our public buildings at their current level. This requires increasing our budget for these assets. We will keep applying for grants to further improve community buildings and toilets.
stormwater drainage
The network includes underground pits and pipes, as well as above ground detention basins and open channels.
current rating
Good to very good 65%
Satisfactory 30%
Poor to very poor 5%
Future options
We currently spend $3.6 million per year on stormwater drainage maintenance and renewal.
GOOD: An extra $9.3 million per year for 10 years
All stormwater assets will be in good condition. There will be minimal overflows during storms.
SATISFACTORY: An extra $5.7 million per year for 10 years
Stormwater assets will stay as they are. There will be occasional flooding during storms.
POOR: No budget increase
The current budget isn’t enough to maintain assets at their current condition. There will be some flooding during minor storms. Only 50% of customer requests can be addressed.
Council’s position
Aiming for a satisfactory condition will provide the best results for the community at an affordable cost. This requires increasing our budget for these assets.
public swimming pools
We have two aquatic centres and seven outdoor pool facilities. Entrance fees and memberships cover about 7% of the cost to maintain the pools.
current rating
Future options
We currently spend $3.54 million each year to operate and maintain our swimming pools. This is not enough to keep them in their current condition.
GOOD: An extra $580,000 per year for 10 years
This would allow us to repair defects quickly without closing pools.
SATISFACTORY: An extra $180,000 per year for 10 years Pools may occasionally close for repairs.
POOR: No budget increase
If spending doesn’t increase, defects will grow, and pools will need to close for longer repairs.
Council’s position
Aiming for a satisfactory condition is the most achievable option. We will keep applying for grants to improve public swimming pools when available.
recreation
Recreational assets include playgrounds, sports facilities, skateparks, wharfs, jetties, boat ramps, ocean baths, picnic shelters, barbecues, and parkland — all of which we maintain.
current rating
Good to very good 51%
Satisfactory 30%
Poor to very poor 19%
Future options
We spend $8.4 million a year to maintain existing recreational assets. This is not enough to keep them in their current condition.
GOOD: An extra $4 million per year for 10 years
All recreational assets would be in good condition.
SATISFACTORY: An extra $1.4 million per year for 10 years
Assets would stay in a satisfactory condition.
POOR: No budget increase
Recreational assets will significantly decline over the next 10 years.
Council’s position
Aiming for a satisfactory condition is the most achievable and affordable option for our community. We will keep applying for grants to further improve recreational assets.
water
Water supply to homes is an essential service, provided 24/7. We have a large network of water assets, including treatment plants, pump stations, dams, reservoirs, bores, aquifers and network pipes. We must maintain and replace assets to meet legislative requirements, health regulations, and population growth.
Future options
We currently spend $63 million per year to maintain water supply and improve water security. This is not enough to keep all assets in their current condition.
GOOD: An extra $25 million per year for 10 years
All water supply assets are brought up to good condition. Minimal water outages due to pipe breakages.
SATISFACTORY: An extra $5 million per year for 10 years All assets will remain in their current condition.
POOR: No budget increase
Assets will start to decline as we can’t maintain them at current levels. More pipe breaks and water outages will happen.
Council’s position
Aiming for a satisfactory condition is necessary to meet the community’s needs. We will seek state and federal funding to
sewerage
Sewerage services to urban homes is an essential service, available 24/7. The assets for this service include sewage treatment plants, recycled water treatment plants, pump stations, and network pressure and gravity pipes.
current rating
Good to very good 63%
Satisfactory 24%
Poor to very poor 13%
Future options
We currently spend $57 million each year to maintain sewerage assets and support population growth.
GOOD: An extra $4 million each year over the next 10 years All sewerage assets will be in good condition.
SATISFACTORY: No budget increase
The current budget will maintain assets at the current condition and service population growth over the next 10 years.
POOR: Reduce the budget
If the budget is reduced, we won’t be able to support population growth, and assets will decline, causing service disruptions.
Council’s position
Aiming for a satisfactory condition lets us maintain assets at their current level or better and continue to service population growth. We will keep applying for grants to further improve our sewerage assets.