Council - 28 Apr 2026 2:00 PM

Article-worthy topics

• Draft integrated planning and budget documents to go on public exhibition
  Council approved 28-day public exhibition of the revised Delivery Program 2025-2029, Operational Plan 2026-27 including the Budget and Fees and Charges, and the Resourcing Strategy 2026-2036.
  Residents can review and comment on council priorities, budget settings, fees and long-term financial and asset plans before final adoption.

Key decisions

• Draft integrated planning and budget documents to go on public exhibition
  Council approved 28-day public exhibition of the revised Delivery Program 2025-2029, Operational Plan 2026-27 including the Budget and Fees and Charges, and the Resourcing Strategy 2026-2036.
  Residents can review and comment on council priorities, budget settings, fees and long-term financial and asset plans before final adoption.
• Asset management policy placed on exhibition
  Council endorsed the draft Asset Management Policy for public exhibition for 28 days.
  This policy guides how council manages infrastructure and assets that support local services and facilities.
• Hardship assistance and debt recovery policies placed on exhibition
  Council endorsed the draft Rates and Charges Hardship Assistance Strategic Policy and Debt Recovery & Management Strategic Policy for 28-day public exhibition.
  These policies may affect how council supports ratepayers in hardship and how unpaid rates and charges are managed.
• Formal review of the rating system commenced
  Council resolved to formally review the current rating structure, including rating categories, the balance of ad valorem and base rates, and how the rating burden is distributed across ratepayer classes, with findings to inform possible changes including a new farming subcategory for 2027/28.
  This could lead to changes in how rates are calculated and shared across different property owners.
• Village Enhancement Fund grant approved for Manildra BBQ area
  Council approved $8,000 under the 2025/26 Village Enhancement Fund to Manildra and District Improvement Association, in partnership with Cabonne Council, to build a BBQ facility area at Montana Park.
  This funds a new community facility in Manildra.
• Event sponsorship funding approved
  Council approved $3,300 to Arts Council Cabonne for the 2026 Acquisitive Art Prize and $485 to Ultimate Rock Crawling for the Rock Boss 4WD event.
  This supports local arts and events that may attract participation and visitors.
• Orange & District Pistol Club lease renewed
  Council authorised a 15-year lease renewal for land at 166 Stagecoach Road, Emu Swamp, to Orange & District Pistol Club from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2041.
  This secures continued use of the site by the club for the long term.
• Sale process for Connelly's Store progressed
  After considering public submissions, council authorised a second property appraisal and will receive a further report on valuation guidance before any listing for sale.
  Residents interested in the future of the property will have another decision point before sale proceeds.
• Unused road reserve sale proposal to be exhibited
  Council approved public exhibition of a proposal to purchase portions of unused road reserves affecting Lots 1, 2 and 3 DP1102656 and Lot 1 DP155601 in the parishes of Anson and Byng, with a further report to follow.
  Nearby landowners and community members may be able to comment before council decides whether to proceed.
• $1 million regional grant application authorised
  Council authorised submission of a $1,000,000 application to the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Active Regional Communities Package.
  If successful, the grant could bring significant external funding into the area for community projects.
• Water charge write-off request refused in confidential session
  Council adopted a confidential committee recommendation to deny a request to write off or reduce water consumption charges for one account for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 January 2026.
  This indicates council did not approve relief in that specific water billing case.

Important topics

• Community capacity to pay
  Council noted a report on the community's capacity to pay and requested a final updated report after any decision on a potential rating restructure and possible Special Rate Variation application to IPART.
  This links future rate decisions to affordability and may influence whether council seeks higher rate income.
• Variation to community assistance project
  Council approved a variation to previously allocated Cabonne Community Assistance Program funding for the Cumnock and District Progress Association, subject to design, location, staff consultation, regulatory compliance and acquittal conditions.
  This allows an existing community-funded project to change scope while keeping oversight conditions in place.
• Regional banking services noted
  Council separately considered and noted information about regional banking services.
  Access to banking remains a recognised issue for rural communities, although no direct action was resolved here.

Resident impacts

• Residents will be able to make submissions on council's draft budget, fees, delivery program and long-term planning documents during a 28-day exhibition period.
• Ratepayers may be affected by a future rating restructure, including possible changes to categories and how rates are apportioned.
• Manildra residents are set to benefit from a new BBQ facility area at Montana Park.
• Arts and event audiences may benefit from council sponsorship of the Acquisitive Art Prize and Rock Boss 4WD event.
• People interested in local land and property decisions may wish to watch upcoming reports on Connelly's Store and the proposed road reserve sale.
• A successful $1 million state grant application could fund future community infrastructure or programs.

Places affected

• Molong (town)
  Meeting location.
• Manildra (town)
  Village Enhancement Fund grant approved for a project led by the local improvement association.
• Montana Park (park)
  Site of the approved BBQ facility area project.
• Emu Swamp (locality)
  Location of land leased to Orange & District Pistol Club at 166 Stagecoach Road.
• Stagecoach Road, Emu Swamp (road)
  Address of the pistol club lease renewal site.
• Cumnock (town)
  Community assistance program funding variation for the Cumnock and District Progress Association.
• Parish of Anson (parish)
  Part of the area affected by the proposed unused road reserve purchase.
• Parish of Byng (parish)
  Part of the area affected by the proposed unused road reserve purchase.

Next steps

• Publicly exhibit the draft Delivery Program, Operational Plan including Budget and Fees and Charges, and Resourcing Strategy.
  28 days following the meeting
• Return a report to council after exhibition of the integrated planning and reporting documents.
  After the 28-day exhibition period
• Publicly exhibit the draft Asset Management Policy.
  28 days following the meeting
• Publicly exhibit the draft Rates and Charges Hardship Assistance Policy and Debt Recovery & Management Policy.
  28 days following the meeting
• Undertake the formal review of the current rating structure and report findings to council.
  In time for consideration of a possible new farming subcategory for the 2027/2028 rating year
• Prepare a final updated community capacity to pay report.
  After a decision on any rating restructure and potential Special Rate Variation application
• Obtain a second property appraisal for Connelly's Store and bring back a further report before any listing for sale.
  Future council meeting
• Publicly exhibit the proposed purchase of unused road reserves and return a follow-up report.
  After exhibition period
• Submit the $1,000,000 Active Regional Communities Package grant application.
  As authorised by council

Extracted minutes text

MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS MOLONG ON TUESDAY 28 APRIL, 2026 COMMENCING AT 2:00 PM OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF CABONNE COUNCIL HELD ON 28 APRIL, 2026 TABLE OF CONTENTS ITEMS FOR DETERMINATION ...................................................................... 1 ITEM - 1 APPLICATIONS FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE .............................. 1 ITEM - 2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST .................................................. 1 ITEM - 3 DECLARATIONS OF POLITICAL DONATIONS .......................... 1 ITEM - 4 MAYORAL MINUTE - APPOINTMENTS ....................................... 1 ITEM - 5 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ...............................................