By Gunnedah Shire Council mayor Colleen Fuller
As council prepares its draft Annual Report for 2024/25, ongoing cost-shifting to local government is front of mind.
At last week’s ordinary meeting, Council resolved to write to the NSW Premier, the NSW Treasurer and the NSW Minister for Local Government asking them to urgently address the extent and impact of cost-shifting onto local government through a combination of regulatory reform and appropriate funding.
Local Government NSW’s recent independent report on cost-shifting revealed that $1.5 billion of expense was imposed on councils by various state and federal government policies in the 2023/2024 financial year.
This is an increase of approximately $140 million (10 per cent) since the last report for the 2021/2022 financial year, when the total cost shift was estimated at $1.36 billion. On average, this also now represents an inflated cost of $497.40 for each ratepayer, an increase of $36.72 from 2021/2022.
Council introduced a Special Rate Variation in the 2025/2026 financial year as a result of ongoing cost-shifting, increasing costs to deliver services and maintain community assets, and reduced financial assistance.
It is not fair or feasible for councils to continue to shoulder the financial burden of the rising shortfall while our own costs are increasing. Action must be taken to safeguard our community and its assets for the future, and I stand with my fellow councillors on this escalating issue.
To view the 2025 LGNSW Cost Shifting Report, visit the Local Government NSW website.
In good news, a new road at 243-261 Stock Road will be named “Wotton Close” in honour of the late Roger Corfield Anson Wotton. The name was endorsed by Councillors at last week’s ordinary meeting following a public exhibition period.
Mr Wotton was a Lieutenant in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force 1940-45, Country Party member from 1968-71 and 1973-1991, and captain of Gunnedah Cricket team in the 1950s, playing at country level.
He was also NSW Cricket Association vice president for 30 years, councillor and vice president of the Royal Agricultural Society from 1961, and ringmaster at the Sydney Royal Easter Show during the 1980s. On a personal note, Mr Wotton was in the Gunnedah Show Society with my father, Col Finlay, and they received Life Membership on the same night.
Mr Wotton was a very important man who gave so much to our community, so I’m really pleased that his legacy will be honoured in this way.
Councillors have endorsed the allocation of a one-off sum of $10,000 to directly facilitate the operations and initiatives of the Youth Working Group in the 2025/2026 budget.
The working group is an exciting opportunity for our youth and it’s wonderful that the membership is growing. In past years, there have been vibrant youth councils who have achieved great things and also learnt valuable skills such as teamwork, leadership and advocacy. I look forward to seeing what is achieved by our new Youth Working Group.
I’m pleased to say that the Rural Roads Working Group is one step closer to its first meeting following the endorsement of 11 community members to represent the four quadrants of Gunnedah shire.
The new working group is an advisory body of council established to be responsive to our community’s needs.
A lot of work went into the establishment of this group and I thank all those who applied, and those who helped make it happen.
