A $37.6 million capital works program - including the biggest investment in water and sewer infrastructure since 2006, 153 projects and a forecasted budget surplus - was signed off in Singleton Council's 2019/2020 Operational Plan to take effect from July 1.
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The document, formally adopted at council's ordinary meeting on Monday night, also reinforced the organisation's successful approach to financial management with continued downward pressure on operating expenses and improvement in all Fit for the Future benchmarks while increasing expenditure on asset maintenance and renewal.
Some of the actions in council's plans for the coming financial year are the community commemoration of Singleton's bicentenary in March 2020; continuation of the Singleton Town Centre upgrade; increased commitment to advocacy and socio-economic planning; and finalisation of the Floodplain Risk Management Plan.
General manager Jason Linnane said the 2019/2020 Operational Plan was built on sustained operational improvements over the past three years, underpinned by difficult but necessary decisions by councillors and staff.
"What I'm most excited about is the focus on asset renewal, with $29.4 million allocated to keeping assets at a high standard to serve our community into the future," he said.
"We will see a significant investment in our water and sewer network amounting to $17.1 million to upgrade the infrastructure required to provide our most essential services.
"And, there's a great range of projects to support a range of interests in our community, such as the new roof for the Singleton Museum in Burdekin Park and improvements to Howe Park including irrigation and a white picket fence for the cricket oval."
The capital works budget includes:
* $10.42 million for roads;
* $9.27 million for water infrastructure;
* $7.84 million for sewer infrastructure; and
* $4.37 million for recreation and buildings.
Mr Linnane said the coming financial year was the final in founcil's four-year special rate variation, which had helped to lay the foundations for asset management into the future - and in line with the state government's Fit for the Future measurements.
"Our community can be confident council is doing what we say we're going to do, with respect for careful and considered utilisation of the resources available, as well as the needs of our residents," he said.
"The draft Operational Plan allows for increases in rates and charges ranging from 5.8 per cent to 9.78 per cent, keeping average residential rates in Singleton at less than 80 per cent of the Hunter Region average.
"Our waste, water and sewer charges are also among the comparatively lowest in our region.
"But the bottom line is we will continue to work hard during this coming year to deliver the highest quality services to our community, while maintaining our commitment to sound financial management and sustainability."