Council invites community feedback on draft Resourcing Strategy
Published on 13 May 2025
Murray River Council has endorsed its draft Resourcing Strategy and associated plans and is now inviting the community to have its say.
The Resourcing Strategy outlines how Council plans to resource and deliver the key actions identified in its 4-year Delivery Program through three core documents:
- The Workforce Management Strategy
- The Asset Management Strategy
- The Long-Term Financial Plan (2025-2035)
This suite of documents allows Council to assess its current and future capacity to implement its longer-term goals and program of works.
Mayor Cr John Harvie said the strategy reflects a realistic view of Council’s capacity and the challenges it must navigate over the next decade.
“These documents are fundamentally interconnected, and they underpin our ability to meet community expectations now and into the future.”
“It’s important the community understands what we’re working with and provides feedback on whether our priorities align with theirs,” he said.
The Workforce Management Strategy supports Council’s capacity to deliver services through a skilled and sustainable workforce.
The Long-Term Financial Plan (LTFP) projects Council’s financial performance over the next ten years. While it initially forecasts a net operating deficit - reaching $6.522 million by year four - it also shows a gradual recovery, returning to a more or less break-even position by year ten. Importantly, all borrowings are expected to be repaid by year six, creating future borrowing capacity if required.
The LTFP also demonstrates that while Water, Sewer, and Waste funds are financially stable due to full cost recovery, the general fund continues to face pressure, which impacts Council’s broader financial position.
The Asset Management Strategy identifies how Council will manage and maintain infrastructure assets valued at $1.39 billion. It outlines a pathway to improve asset management practices and highlights the current gap between lifecycle funding needs and available revenue. Without action, this shortfall could result in a growing backlog of renewal works and a need to consider asset rationalisation or reduced service levels.
“Federal governments, over the last 20 years, have cut annual funding to local councils by 50%,” Cr Harvie said.
“Council’s share of Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants has been cut from 1% of federal taxation to 0.5% or, in MRC’s case, by $10 million per annum.”
“This is why we will continue to advocate for the Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants to be reinstated to the 1% of federal taxation revenue,” Cr Harvie said.
“Our infrastructure assets are critical to the liveability of our communities.”
“But without any additional support we will be left to make some tough decisions about how we fund their renewal and maintenance going forward,” he said.
The draft Resourcing Strategy and associated plans are available for viewing and public comment via council’s Your Say platform: yoursay.murrayriver.nsw.gov.au.
Submissions close 11 June 2025.