Shaping Tomorrow: The Future of Glen Innes Severn

At today’s Ordinary Council Meeting, Glen Innes Severn Council made a number of critically important decisions that will shape the organisation’s direction and financial position over the coming decade.

Council formally adopted the Community Strategic Plan (CSP) 2025–2035, the Delivery Program (DP) 2025–2026, the 2025-2026 Operational Plan and Budget and the Revised Long-Term Financial Plan (LTFP) (2025-2035) - setting a clear course of action for service delivery, infrastructure investment and financial recovery.

Of particular importance, Council resolved to endorse the preparation of an application to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for a Special Rate Variation (SRV), to be submitted in February 2026. If approved, the SRV would be implemented from the 2026/27 financial year.

A revised Sustainability SRV scenario, adopted as part of the Revised LTFP 2025-2035, proposes a cumulative increase of 48.3 per cent over three years, reduced from the previously proposed 55.49 per cent over two years. The revised model reflects extensive community feedback and updated financial analysis, and includes a later target year for financial sustainability — now projected for 2029/30.

Mayor Margot Davis said today’s decisions follow extensive community engagement and reflects Council’s commitment to addressing its long-term financial challenges, whilst meeting the obligations as elected officials and in accordance with the Local Government Act.

“This was a serious and significant decision for Council, we listened to the community particularly with regard to the impact on pensioners, extending the period of time the SRV is implemented, and the need expressed by the community to maintain services and infrastructure. Council will continue to focus on cost and service efficiencies and work more closely with the villages to improve their liveability,” Cr Davis said.

The Revised LTFP also includes a number of important amendments which are included in the revised sustainability scenario including:

• Increased operational savings through improved internal efficiencies
• An additional $50 pensioner rebate
• Ongoing commitment to town and village improvements
• Deferral of the Town Hall master planning project
• A technical adjustment to depreciation forecasts
• More moderate increases to waste charges

Mayor Davis added, “This was a difficult but important decision in terms of the long term future of the region. As elected members we have a responsibility to not just think about tomorrow but put in place the foundations for a financial, economic and socially sustainable future. We know any rate increase is difficult for parts of our community hence the initiatives around the pensioner rebate and the imminent review of our hardship policy.

It was not a decision taken lightly, but a decision which puts in place the foundations for a stronger more vibrant future,” she said.

All adopted documents will be made available on Council’s website under Plans, Strategies and Other Public Documents.

Glen Innes Severn Council will next week discuss the outcomes of its recent extensive community engagement program – concerning a new Community Strategic Plan (CSP), Delivery Program (DP), Operational Plan and Budget (OP) and the Revised Long-Term Financial Plan (LTFP).

While all these documents are crucial, the community's primary focus has been on the scenarios proposed for a Special Rate Variation (SRV).

Following valuable community feedback and a thorough review of submissions, further remodelling of the Revised LTFP 2025–2035 has been undertaken. The business paper for the June 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting, which is being released publicly today, recommends to Council an amended Sustainability scenario which incorporates an SRV of 48.3 per cent over three years.

Other proposed amendments to the Revised LTFP 2025-2034 include:

• Greater savings from improving organisational efficiency
• Acknowledging pensioners with an increase in the pensioner rebate of $50
• Retaining a commitment to towns and villages improvements
• Deferral of Town Hall master planning
• A reduction in depreciation following a technical review

The recommended scenario involves rate increases over three years, culminating in the 2028/29 fiscal year, with the target year for achieving financial sustainability now set for 2029/30 – one year later than previously anticipated. Additionally, waste charges have been reviewed, resulting in significantly scaled-back increases.

The phone survey, conducted as part of the community engagement program, indicated the original Sustainability scenario which had an increase of 55.49 per cent over two years: 41 per cent were not at all supportive, 22 per cent, not very supportive, 21 per cent, somewhat supportive and 16 per cent either supportive or very supportive. The revised Sustainability scenario being recommended to Council at 48.3 per cent, is 7.19 per cent less than the initially proposed scenario.

The business paper also incorporates a Capacity to Pay report which has been prepared as background information for Councillors. The report does not make commentary on specific SRV scenarios but provides an analysis of a wide range of socio-economic and other data, and evaluates the general financial capacity of ratepayers to pay the proposed rate changes.

General Manager, Bernard Smith said, "This recommendation to Council achieves the requirement of financial sustainability, reflects the concerns of the community, but still enables the region to grow and be a desirable and liveable community.”

“The community has told us that the maintenance of infrastructure and the delivery of services is important, and this proposal enables Council to meet that expectation. Council remains committed to ensuring that the region continues to thrive while addressing the needs and concerns of its residents,” Mr Smith said.

The June 2025 Ordinary Council meeting will commence at 9am on Thursday, 19 June and be held in the William Gardner Conference Room at the Glen Innes Severn Learning Centre. The business paper with attachments will be made available on the Council Meetings page.

Glen Innes Severn Council’s Shaping Tomorrow community engagement program has reached its halfway mark, with key themes emerging as the process gathers momentum.

Since launching in late April, the comprehensive program has engaged hundreds of residents in discussions about Council’s long-term plans, financial sustainability and the proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV), in line with the requirements set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

Over the past week, more than 200 residents attended the face-to-face meeting in Glen Innes, with another 40 attending the Emmaville session the previous week.

Mayor Margot Davis said clear themes are emerging from the sessions, particularly around the impact on pensioners and the need for Council to operate more efficiently.

“We also heard concerns about the impact on pensioners, and we are committed to exploring ways to reduce the burden on those most affected by rate increases over and above the hardship policy that we already have in place. Operational efficiency, good financial management and identifying cost savings has already started, and we will continue this focus going forward,” she said.

Council thanks all Glen Innes Severn residents for their participation, respectful engagement and thoughtful contributions.

With the Shaping Tomorrow program at its halfway point, residents still have the opportunity to provide valuable input on Council’s future plans and financial sustainability. The program continues until 6 June, with multiple ways for the community to have their say, including the online survey, an upcoming phone survey and remaining community information sessions.

To learn more and have your say, visit: haveyoursay.gisc.nsw.gov.au/shaping-tomorrow

Council has endorsed key strategic plans to articulate the community’s priorities, deliver Council services, facilities and maintain assets and importantly to ensure the financial sustainability of Council and the growth and prosperity of the Glen Innes Severn region.

At the Ordinary Council Meeting this morning, councillors endorsed a number of strategies and plans that will be discussed with the community through a comprehensive Community Engagement Program – “Shaping Tomorrow”. Among ensuring that the community is aligned with the future plans Council will gauge ratepayers’ sentiments on the various scenarios in consideration of applying to the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for a Special Rate Variation (SRV) for July 2026.

Council’s budget faces significant pressures and that like many other Council’s in NSW Glen Innes Severn is faced with an income gap, with costs increasing at a greater rate than revenue. This imbalance is projected to grow over the coming decade.

A number of factors have culminated in the need for an SRV, the fact that the rate peg set by IPART has not kept pace with rising inflation and other growing costs. Other impacts are the increased cost of wages, scarcity of contractors and materials, reduced available grants and funding, cost-shifting from state and federal government and the Federal Assistance Grants (FAGs) of only 0.54% instead of 1%.

Mayor Margot Davis said the situation has been compounded by state and federal governments increasingly shifting financial responsibility for items such as roads and infrastructure onto local councils without sufficient funding.

“It’s a situation afflicting councils right around NSW, with close to 40 having applied for an SRV in the past four years. This is a long-term problem that needs a long-term solution. Our General Fund has been in deficit since 2021 so it’s well overdue to address this challenge.”

“We know this is a difficult conversation—especially at a time when the rising cost of living is placing real pressure on households. No one wants to see rates increase. However, achieving long-term financial sustainability is vital if we are to continue maintaining our infrastructure, delivering valued services, and planning for a stronger future,” Cr Davis said.

As a result, the Council is now asking the community for feedback on the following SRV options.

• Managed Decline (rate increase limited to just the yearly rate peg): The cumulative rate peg increase is estimated at 9.5% over three years as follows, 3.5% rate peg for 2026/27 and forecasted rate pegs of 3.0% for 2027/28 and 2028/29. Council will implement the Service Review Program and the Review of Waste (domestic and non-domestic) pricing, Water and Sewer Costs and Pricing Strategy. This improves the General Fund’s operations by reducing the deficit from $6.1 million to $4.7M. These strategies alone will not fully resolve operating deficits or a decline in cash reserves.
• Sustainability Scenario: A cumulative permanent SRV (including the rate peg) of 55.49% applied over two years as follows; 28.5% (rate peg + SRV) in 2026/27 and 21% (rate peg + SRV) in 2027/28.
• Growth and Prosperity Scenario: A 61.75% cumulative permanent SRV (including the rate peg) over 2 years applied as follows; 31.5% (rate peg + SRV) in 2026/27 and 23% (rate peg + SRV) in 2027/28.
• Growth and Prosperity Scenario: A 68.50% cumulative permanent SRV (including the rate peg) over 3 years applied as follows; 26.5% (rate peg + SRV) in 2026/27, 20.0% (rate peg + SRV) in 2027/28 and 11.0% in 2028/29 (rate peg + SRV). With this increase, Council can have a modest surplus to deliver a Growth and Prosperity Program that delivers health, housing, parklands and township improvements across the region and importantly, plans for economic growth into the future. This is Council’s preferred scenario.

Videos from a financial expert further explaining Rates, Financial Sustainability and SRVs are live for the community to view – they explain the how and why Council needs one and how it will affect ratepayers can be viewed at: https://haveyoursay.gisc.nsw.gov.au/shaping-tomorrow

The Shaping Tomorrow Community Consultation period will run until 6 June 2025. There are a number of ways people can participate:

1. Online Submissions: Visit GISC’s Have Your Say page at https://haveyoursay.gisc.nsw.gov.au/shaping-tomorrow
   
   
2. Hard Copy Submissions: Hard copies of the draft documents and the SRV survey will be available at:
   • Council Administration Offices at Town Hall
   • The Glen Innes Severn Public & TAFE Library
   • Australia Post: Emmaville and Deepwater
3. Community Information Sessions: Members of the community and other interested persons, organisations and agencies may attend an in-person session to ask questions and provide feedback:
   • Emmaville War Memorial Hall: 5 May 5pm - 7pm
   • Glen Innes Town Hall: 14 May 5pm - 7pm
   • Deepwater School of Arts Hall: 27 May 5pm - 7pm
4. Virtual Information Sessions: For those unable to attend the in-person Community Information Sessions, they are welcome to join the virtual sessions:
   • 6 May 5:30pm - 7pm (via Teams)
   • 15 May 5:30pm - 7pm (via Teams)
   • 28 May 5:30pm – 7pm (via Teams)

At the conclusion of the community engagement period, Council will review the feedback received and determine whether to proceed with an application for an SRV. A decision will be made at the Council meeting scheduled for 19 June 2025. If Council decides to move forward, it will notify IPART of its intent to lodge an SRV application in February 2026. If Council decides to proceed with the application in February 2026, residents will have the opportunity to provide feedback directly to IPART as part of the formal review process. They can visit IPART’s Have Your Say page for more information: https://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/Home/Reviews/Have-Your-Say.

Further information detailing the SRV options are all available at https://haveyoursay.gisc.nsw.gov.au/shaping-tomorrow

Published on 17 April 2025

Later today Glen Innes Severn Council will share plans designed to help secure the region’s future for the next decade and provide opportunities and services to improve the lives of those who live and work there.

The latest business papers will be available on Council’s website just before the Easter break, a week prior to the next Ordinary Council Meeting, scheduled for Thursday 24 April. They include the Community Strategic Plan (CSP) that outlines the vision and strategic objectives for the Council for the next 10 years. The Delivery Program (DP) then details the strategies Council will employ to achieve the objectives outlined in the CSP.

Mayor Margot Davis said the community has played a vital role in shaping Council’s vision.

“This plan is designed to shape an economically diverse, socially connected, environmentally sustainable and well-serviced place to live and work—supported by fit-for-purpose infrastructure that meets both current and future needs.

“I’m looking forward to discussing those plans with my fellow councillors at the April Council meeting where your elected representatives will decide to move forward to consult with the community through a robust engagement plan,” Cr Davis said.

At that meeting, Council will vote to put the Draft Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035, Draft Delivery Program 2025-2029, Draft Revised Long Term Financial Plan 2025-2035 and Operational Plan 2025-2026 on Public Exhibition.

Council’s Long term Financial Plan (LTFP) details how Council will remain financially viable over the next 10 years.

Like many councils around NSW, Glen Innes Severn Council is experiencing costs rising faster than income—a gap expected to widen over the next decade.

This means that under current conditions, Council's General Fund is not financially sustainable. As a result, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and upgrade essential infrastructure such as roads, bridges, kerbing and guttering, parks, drainage, buildings and other community assets or provide new community facilities.

This has prompted Council to consider the option of applying to the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for a Special Rate Variation (SRV) to be implemented in 2026-2027.

If endorsed at the April Ordinary Council Meeting, a comprehensive Community Engagement Program will be conducted until 6 June. Residents and ratepayers will be encouraged to have their say on four options.

Mayor Davis added, “We know this is going to be a challenging conversation—especially at a time when the rising cost of living is placing real pressure on households. No one wants to see rates increase. However, achieving long-term financial sustainability is vital if we are to continue maintaining our infrastructure, delivering valued services, and planning for a stronger future.”

• Managed Decline (rate increase limited to just the yearly rate peg): The cumulative rate peg increase is estimated at 9.5%* over three years as follows, 3.5% rate peg for 2026/27 and forecasted rate pegs of 3.0% for 2027/28 and 2028/29. Council will implement the Service Review Program and the Review of Waste (domestic and non-domestic) pricing, Water and Sewer Costs and Pricing Strategy. This improves the General Fund’s operations by reducing the deficit by $1.0M in 2025/26 to $4.0M*. These strategies alone will not fully resolve operating deficits or a decline in cash reserves
• Sustainability Scenario: A cumulative permanent SRV (including the rate peg) of 55.49% applied over two years as follows; 28.5% (rate peg + SRV) in 2026/27 and 21% (rate peg + SRV) in 2027/28
• Growth and Prosperity Scenario: A 61.75% cumulative permanent SRV (including the rate peg) over 2 years applied as follows; 31.5% (rate peg + SRV) in 2026/27 and 23% (rate peg + SRV) in 2027/28
  
  
• Growth and Prosperity Scenario: A 68.50% cumulative permanent SRV (including the rate peg) over 3 years applied as follows; 26.5% (rate peg + SRV) in 2026/27, 20.0% (rate peg + SRV) in 2027/28 and 11.0% in 2028/29 (rate peg + SRV). With this increase, Council can have a modest surplus to deliver a Growth and Prosperity Program that delivers health, housing, parklands and township improvements across the region and importantly, plans for economic growth into the future.

At the conclusion of the community engagement period, Council will review the feedback received and determine whether to proceed with an application to IPART for an SRV. A decision will be made at the Ordinary Council Meeting scheduled for 19 June 2025.

Business papers can be found on the Council Meetings page.

*Updated information following the media release issued on 17 April 2025: Managed Decline (rate increase limited to just the yearly rate peg):The cumulative rate peg increase is estimated at 9.8% over three years as follows, 3.5% rate peg for 2026/27 and forecasted rate pegs of 3.0% for 2027/28 and 2028/29. Council will implement the Service Review Program and the Review of Waste (domestic and non-domestic) pricing, Water and Sewer Costs and Pricing Strategy. This improves the General Fund’s operations by reducing the deficit from $6.1 million to $4.7M.

The next Ordinary Council Meeting is scheduled to be held:

• Thursday, 24 April 2025
• 9.00am
• William Garner Conference Room at the Glen Innes Severn Learning Centre

Anyone wishing to address Council at the Public Forum session - held immediately prior to the Ordinary Council Meeting - must make an application. Applications must be submitted by 12 noon on Tuesday, 22 April 2025

Download an application here.

Council Meetings will continue to be live streamed and viewable on Council's website for a period of 12 months from the date of the meeting.