The draft Northern Beaches Council 2024/25 budget has a focus on resilience and sustainability, prioritising projects and services that support and strengthen our community and environment.
The 2024/25 draft budget projects total expenditure of $526 million, including a capital works program of $101 million with $40 million in asset renewal to improve the overall condition of our assets and to reduce ongoing operational costs associated with asset repair and maintenance. A further $61 million will deliver high priority new assets to the community. It forecasts an operating deficit before capital grants and contributions of $5.8 million.
Capital works program highlights include:
- $23.2m for new community facilities including Warriewood Valley community centre ($16.7m) and Warringah Recreation Centre ($2.2m)
- $16.4m on improving road assets including $7.1m to resurface 4.8km of roads
- $10.1m towards priority stormwater management works to reduce flooding and pollution
- $5.8m on cycleways including the pedestrian and cyclist bridge at Queenscliff ($3m)
- $5.2m for new and improved footpaths and walkways which includes:
- a section of the Coast Walk
- the Queenscliff Headland access ramp
- $2.8m to deliver 5km of footpaths across 14 suburbs - $3.5m improving sports fields and new recreation facilities
- $3.4m improving foreshores at various locations, including implementation of the Freshwater Beach masterplan ($1.5m)
- $3.3m on new and improved reserves and playgrounds including Frenchs Forest precinct park upgrade ($1.5m)
- $3.3m to continue the Collaroy-Narrabeen coastal protection works
- $2.2m for work on Taylors Point and design of Greater Mackerel Beach and Currawong wharves
- $2m improving recreational trails, including a new Manly Dam boardwalk ($1.5m)
- $1.8m improving public amenities at Freshwater Beach and West Esplanade, Manly
- $1.7m on town centre and village upgrades
The draft budget will be on exhibition from 3 May and Mayor Sue Heins encouraged the community to have their say.
“The proposed budget balances the need to respond to the increasing occurrence of storms, floods and coastal erosion, and their impact on infrastructure, while maintaining services and activities valued by our community.
"It will deliver some important projects including stormwater management works to reduce flooding and pollution, flood mitigation works on Wakehurst Parkway, trials of circular economy initiatives for reuse, repair and recycling of household items, critical structural repairs to rockpools and improvements in roads, footpaths, playgrounds and sporting fields.
“However, Council is not immune to growing pressure on our financial sustainability and the rising costs of materials, contracts, and construction. The COVID-19 pandemic and six natural disasters have also eaten into our budget, to the tune of millions of dollars.
“The significant cost shifting from other arms of government, such as the 50% increase in the Emergency Services Levy to $9.3 million per year, is adding to this financial pressure.
“The State Government sets the limit for rates increases each year, however the cost of providing council services and community infrastructure has increased by more than this each year. Over the past 3 years inflation has increased by 16.8% – more than double the 7.2% increase in rates income over the same period – this is an accumulative gap of $18 million.
“We continue to work hard to find ways to offset cost pressures while maintaining our services and assets. In recent years we have reviewed fees, found efficiency gains and cost savings, including over $2.4 million in efficiency savings in the last two years and within this proposed budget.
“In planning for the future, we are committed to working with our community on a way forward to ensure we can maintain our services and infrastructure in a sustainable way.
“I encourage the community to get involved and have their say online or by attending one of the information sessions.”