Infrastructure looms as main priority

NARACOORTE Lucindale Council has adopted its 2025-2026 Annual Business Plan and Budget at its final monthly meeting for the current financial year.

Roads and stormwater will continue to be council’s biggest investment in 2025-2026, with a budgeted total capital expenditure of $7,028,154, including $2,414,970 on re-sheeting and resealing projects.

Council endorsed a 5 per cent increase in general rate revenue to ensure the delivery of projects expected by the community but with a careful approach in the current economic climate.

Mayor Patrick Ross said most of the rateable properties in the council area (56.83%) would experience a rate increase of between 0%-5%, and 6.14% would receive a rate decrease.

Primary producers would, on average, experience a rate increase of 3.88%.

“We know some in our community are doing it tough and, at our May Council meeting, we supported streamlining the application process for customers experiencing difficulty with payment of rates, in particular due to the drought conditions,” Mayor Ross said.

“This includes not imposing fines, interest or debt collection on any application approved for a remission or postponement of rates. I would encourage anyone impacted by drought who is facing payment difficulties to make contact with Council staff for more information.”

Mayor Ross said the council was continuing with a range of projects from its strategic plans, with a total capital spend of $11.6M budgeted for 2025-2026 – an increase of $1.1M from 2024-2025.

Council’s operational expenditure of $22.98M is an increase of $1.81M from 2024-25.

Major road reconstruction projects include Diagonal Road ($1,481,596) and Moyhall Road ($1,481,596), with Grubbed Road design works ($139,248) also budgeted.

Resealing projects totalling $726,950 have been budgeted for Langkoop Road, Aitchison Avenue and Lochaber North Road; and resheeting projects have been budgeted for Hodges Lane, East Settlement Road, Gunning Road, Schinckels Road, Laurie Park Road and Ellisons Road.

Other capital projects include:

$1,212,420 on continued infrastructure upgrades and improvements at the Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange

$750,000 on the Lucindale main street upgrade

$476,374 on continued upgrades to the Naracoorte Swimming Lake, including improvements to the café with a new undercover outdoor dining area, disability access ramps, shade structures and amenities

$280,852 on continued upgrades at the Naracoorte Cemetery

$268,580 towards the continued implementation of the Naracoorte Creek & Creekwalk Master Plan, including the installation of weirs

$216,930 for bitumen runway sealing at the Naracoorte Aerodrome

$130,413 for Naracoorte Pioneer Park improvements, including a new gazebo, paving, BBQ, street furniture, and pathways

$97,848 for trails work at Lucindale’s Loechel Park

The following is a breakdown of how council will spend each $100 of rates in the new financial year:

$49.29 – Roads, Stormwater, Aerodromes

$22.66 – Administration – Corporate Services, Governance, Risk & HR, Elected Members

$10.22 – Trees, Parks, Sport & Recreation, Cemeteries

$8.51 – Libraries, Community Facilities & Services

$5.68 – Planning, Buildings & Compliance

$3.64 – Communications, Events, Arts

Mayor Ross said that in the lead-up to the adoption of the Annual Business Plan and Budget, the draft documents were released for community comment.

“As a result of community feedback, some amendments were made to the draft documents for final endorsement,” Mayor Ross said..” These included the removal of the Leicester Street playground renewal on the southern side of Naracoorte ($361,550) and the inclusion of financial contributions for fencing for new netball and tennis courts at the Frances Recreation Reserve ($45,000) and a driveway entrance at Yakka Park at Lucindale ($45,160).”

You can read through the 2025-2026 Annual Business Plan and Budget in its entirety on Council’s website at https://bit.ly/nlcbudget

*People experiencing hardship may seek assistance from council with the payment of rates. Please contact Council on (08) 8760 1100 to arrange a confidential discussion.