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Council Releases Draft Annual Business Plan & Budget

Published 29th May 2023

The Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget, which sets out our proposed projects, services and programs for the financial year and how we intend to fund them, is now available for consultation.

As part of the planning process, Council is keen to engage with all members of the community to hear feedback on the planned activities and projects.

Key focus areas for Port Pirie Regional Council’s Draft 2023/24-2025/26 Business Plan and Budget include:

  • Planning for the future – collaborating with the State Government on a Masterplan to identify growth areas and identify required infrastructure to support the projected growth.
  • Continuing to improve the presentation of our communities, minimising lead pathways and delivering projects under the 4-year Port Pirie Greening Strategy.
  • Increased focus on the rural road unsealed network with an extra $790,000 over our usual allocation to accelerate this work.
  • Tourism attraction and economic prosperity – maximising opportunities for our region as a result of the new Southern Flinders Ranges National Park, including the redevelopment of the Solomontown Beach area, finalising Master Plans for Bowman Park and the Nelshaby Reservoir / Lawrie Park area and exploring opportunities for development of Council owned land.

This is a small sample of the projects and other services that we propose to deliver over the next year. More information is available in the summary document and the draft 2023/24-2025/26 Business Plan and Budget, which also includes a list of proposed capital works.

To achieve the projects and services detailed in the Business Plan, we propose an increase of 5.8% in Total Council Rates Revenue which is lower than the current consumer price index number of 7.9%. Total Rates Revenue is made up of General Property Rates, Waste Management Service Charges, Community Wastewater Management System Service Charges and the Regional Landscape Levy.

We recognise the rising cost of living for our communities and the challenges residents and businesses face to make ends meet. In this volatile economic climate, Council is also facing increasing costs in order to continue to provide our wide ranges of services consistent with previous years. This will result in the average residential property’s general rate contribution increasing by approximately $1.83 per week.

Where possible, Council will also seek grant funding and other sources of income to supplement rate funds for specific projects.

The draft Business Plan, Budget and a series of factsheets can be viewed and downloaded at:
www.pirie.sa.gov.au/noticeboard/consultation.

Printed copies of the Business Plan are available at the Council Administration Centre (115 Ellen Street, Port Pirie) Port Pirie Public Library (3 Wandearah Road, Port Pirie) and the Crystal Brook Office (Bowman Street, Crystal Brook).

There will also be a Special Council Meeting held on Wednesday 21 June 2023 at 6.00pm at the Port Pirie Regional Council Chambers, 115 Ellen Street, Port Pirie. This is an opportunity for further information, discussion and for public to make submissions.

We will also be present at the Woolworths and Prime West Plazas (check our socials for the dates) and have offered to present to meetings of the Town Associations in Crystal Brook, Redhill, Koolunga and Pirie Districts.

Written submissions can be made:

Public consultation is open from 9am on Monday 29 May and closes at 5pm on Tuesday 27 June 2023.