Ordinary Meeting - 29/06/2026

Topics

• Council adopts 2026/27 budget, rates and fees with 3.10% rate peg increase
  Annual budget package locks in the new financial year’s charges, including residential rates, water and sewer pricing and major fee changes.
  This will affect every ratepayer and sets the Council’s spending priorities for 2026/27.
• Water bills to rise with $3.03/kL usage charge and new availability fees
  Council set the 2026/27 water usage charge and tiered availability fees based on meter size, with extra concessions for some pensioners.
  Households, businesses and vacant land owners connected to water services will see direct bill impacts.
• Sewer charges set at $2.65/kL as Council adopts new availability fees
  The 2026/27 sewer pricing schedule was locked in, including usage and meter-size availability charges.
  This changes recurring sewer costs for connected properties and some vacant land.

Decisions

• Adopted 2026/27 budget, DPOP and fees and charges with revisions
  Council adopted the Delivery Program, Operational Plan, Budget and Fees and Charges 2026/27, including updates to DPOP actions and KPIs, capital works revisions, operational budget changes and new borrowings for the Sanctuary Point Library.
  This sets Council priorities, service levels and spending for the next financial year, including new debt for a major community facility.
• Set 2026/27 rates, water, sewer and waste charges
  Council resolved to make the 2026/27 rates and charges under the Local Government Act, including a 3.10% rate-peg increase, residential ordinary rate, water usage at $3.03/kL, sewer usage at $2.65/kL, domestic waste service charges and other associated levies and fees.
  These are the main annual charges residents and businesses will see on rate notices and utility accounts.
• Approved additional pensioner rebates
  Council granted a further $10 annual rebate on rate notices and a further $20 annual rebate on water accounts for eligible pensioners, in addition to existing statutory concessions.
  This lowers annual bills for eligible pensioners and provides extra cost-of-living relief.
• Backed $14.4 million borrowing for Sanctuary Point Library
  Council gave in-principle approval to borrow $14.4 million over the life of the Sanctuary Point Library project and directed staff to keep seeking external grant funding.
  This affects delivery and timing of a major new public library for Sanctuary Point and the surrounding area.
• Adopted new dog access rules for Narrawallee Beach
  Council accepted the REF for proposed dog access works and set Narrawallee Beach sections as off-leash, timed off-leash and on-leash areas under the Companion Animals Act.
  This changes how residents and visitors can walk dogs at Narrawallee Beach and affects beach access arrangements.
• Created Low-Cost Rental Initiative Working Group
  Council endorsed the Terms of Reference for a Low-Cost Rental Initiative Working Group, appointed a chair and ward representatives, and moved to recruit community members.
  This signals a new Council focus on low-cost housing advocacy and community involvement.
• Requested report on fast-tracking Berry planning for sewer upgrade design
  Council asked for a report on expediting planning for Berry so future growth can be considered in the current sewage treatment plant upgrade design.
  This could affect future development capacity, infrastructure timing and planning certainty in Berry.

Discussion

• Budget and fees and charges public exhibition outcomes
  Council considered community submissions and adopted the 2026/27 budget package with changes to DPOP actions, capital works, operational spending and fees.
  Residents, ratepayers and community groups will be affected by the adopted budget settings and service pricing.
• Rate peg and ordinary residential rate
  Council set the ordinary residential rate for 2026/27 with a 3.10% rate-peg increase and named rate categories including Residential and Special Rate.
  This directly affects annual rates bills for property owners.
• Water charges and water availability fees
  Council set water usage at $3.03 per kilolitre and introduced tiered water availability charges by meter size, including charges for vacant land and Commonwealth-owned properties where services are available.
  This affects household and business water bills and fixed service charges.
• Sewer charges and sewer availability fees
  Council set sewer usage at $2.65 per kilolitre and sewer availability charges by meter size, with charges also applying to vacant land where service is available.
  This will affect sewer bills for connected properties and some vacant lots.
• Domestic, commercial and wheel-out wheel-in waste charges
  Council adopted annual waste charges including $563 for standard domestic waste service, $970 for a larger landfill bin option, $114 for an additional recycling bin, commercial waste charges and wheel-out wheel-in service fees.
  Households, businesses and residents needing assisted bin presentation will see changes in annual waste costs.
• Vacant land service availability charge
  Council set a $122 per assessment charge for certain residential vacant land or properties where a domestic waste service is available but not taken up.
  This affects some vacant residential properties and landowners who decline the service.
• Pensioner concessions and rebates
  Council approved extra annual rebates for eligible pensioners on rate notices and water accounts.
  This provides direct bill relief to pensioners with rates or water accounts.
• Sanctuary Point Library funding solution
  Council endorsed the project timeline and next steps for the proposed new library, including borrowing and grant seeking.
  This is a major civic infrastructure project for Sanctuary Point and nearby communities.
• Narrawallee Beach dog access consultation question
  Council answered a question on notice about the REF consultation process, explaining the mitigation recommendation and confirming Council remains the determining authority.
  This affects public confidence in the consultation process and the final beach access decision.
• Aboriginal Advisory Committee changes
  Council noted the resignation of Ms Caryn Carpenter and updated the EOI process to include an additional Aboriginal community representative position.
  This affects Aboriginal representation and advisory input into Council decisions.
• Council remuneration for Mayor and councillors
  Council adopted the Tribunal-based remuneration amounts for 2026/27, including the Mayoral Additional Fee.
  This affects councillor and mayoral allowances paid from public funds.
• Notice on items not included in agenda
  Council asked for more detail in future reports on why items were not included in the agenda and how movers were advised.
  This is a transparency and governance change for future meetings.

Impacts

• Higher or adjusted rates and utility bills from 1 July 2026.
• Pensioner households receive extra annual rebates.
• Sanctuary Point residents are likely to see progress on a new library, funded partly through borrowing.
• Narrawallee Beach users, especially dog walkers, will need to follow new access rules.
• Households and businesses will pay revised waste charges and may be eligible for different bin service options.
• Some vacant land owners may face a new waste service availability charge.
• Berry residents may see planning work accelerated to accommodate future growth and sewer infrastructure design.
• Community groups and local representatives will engage with the new Low-Cost Rental Initiative Working Group.

Places

• Sanctuary Point (suburb)
  Site of the proposed library project and loan funding decision.
• Narrawallee Beach (beach)
  New dog access and on-leash/off-leash zoning decision.
• Berry (town)
  Council requested a report on expediting planning linked to sewage treatment upgrade design.
• Burrill Lake (locality)
  Subject of a flood reporting notice of motion.
• Currarong (village)
  Part of the 3CCC community-led path-cycleway proposal.
• Callala (village)
  Part of the 3CCC community-led path-cycleway proposal.
• Culburra (village)
  Part of the 3CCC community-led path-cycleway proposal.
• Nowra Hill (locality)
  Private sewer infrastructure approval for development connection.

Next

• Publish and implement the adopted 2026/27 rates, charges, rebates and fees from 1 July 2026
  From 1 July 2026
• Progress the Sanctuary Point Library borrowing arrangements and continue grant applications
  Ongoing through 2026/27
• Implement Narrawallee Beach dog access changes following final administrative steps
  After Council determination and operational rollout
• Recruit community members for the Low-Cost Rental Initiative Working Group
  Following adoption of the Terms of Reference
• Provide a Berry planning report to a September or October Ordinary Meeting
  September or October 2026
• Notify the Minister of Emergency Services regarding Burrill Lake flood reporting concerns
  As soon as practicable

Extract

Minutes Confirmed Tuesday 28 July 2026 – Chairperson ................................................................................... Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING Meeting Date: Monday, 29 June 2026 Location: Studio Room, Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre Time: 5.30 PM The following members were present: Mayor Patricia White - Chairperson Clr Peter Wilkins Clr Debbie Killian Clr Gillian Boyd Clr Jemma Tribe Clr Ben Krikstolaitis Clr Matthew Norris Clr Karlee Dunn (Remotely) Clr Bob Proudfoot Clr Luciano Casmiri Clr Selena Clancy Clr Brett Steele Clr Denise Kemp A statement was played advising those present that the proceedings of this meeting (including presentations and...