funding · Shoalhaven City Council
Shoalhaven puts draft budget, plans and fees on public exhibition, backs 3.1% rates rise
Shoalhaven City Council has endorsed its draft 2025-29 Delivery Program, 2026/27 Operational Plan, budget and fees for 28 days of public exhibition, while also approving a 3.1 per cent general rates increase for 2026/27.
Shoalhaven City Council has opened the way for public feedback on its draft budget, fees and service plans for the next financial year, after endorsing the package for 28 days of public exhibition at an extraordinary meeting on 30 April.
The endorsed package includes the Draft Delivery Program 2025-29, Draft 2026/27 Operational Plan, Draft Budget and Draft Fees and Charges. The same resolution also approved the maximum general rates rate-peg increase allowed by the Minister under the Local Government Act, lifting total rates levied by 3.1 per cent in 2026/27.
The public minutes show council also decided to keep the same rating structure approach used in 2025/26, using both base and ad valorem amounts. For business categories, the resolution states the 3.1 per cent increase will be applied across the rating structure except for the Business Nowra CBD sub-category and the Business Commercial/Industrial sub-category, with the increase applied to Business Commercial/Industrial and not applied to Nowra CBD. The resolution says the value of the increase not levied on the Nowra CBD sub-category, about $59,818, will be spread to the Business Commercial/Industrial sub-category.
For residents, the immediate change is that the draft budget, fees, projects and services will be available for review before final adoption, while ratepayers are also now on notice of a 3.1 per cent increase in general rates for 2026/27. The minutes also note interest charges will continue to be waived for ratepayers experiencing financial hardship, with assistance available under council's Hardship Policy.
The meeting resolution included several financial management measures. Council approved releasing the remaining balances of the Strategic Projects Reserve, Industrial Land Reserve and Financial Sustainability Review Reserve to unrestricted General Fund cash from 1 July 2026.
It also approved paying down the unrestricted General Fund portions of loan 1241 and loan 1242, using unrestricted cash on the due dates of the first minimum payments in FY2026/27. The minutes say council also received and noted responses in an attachment dealing with outstanding Plant and Fleet notices of motion.
Community feedback on the draft planning and budget documents is due to come back to council in June 2026, before the final package is considered for adoption.
Reference minutes
Source: Shoalhaven City Council Extra Ordinary Meeting minutes, 30 April 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Shoalhaven City Council endorsed the Draft Delivery Program 2025-29, Draft 2026/27 Operational Plan, Draft Budget and Draft Fees and Charges for 28 days of public exhibition.
- Council approved the maximum 2026/27 general rates rate-peg increase allowed by the Minister, increasing total rates levied by 3.1 per cent.
- Council retained the 2025/26 rating structure approach using both base and ad valorem amounts.
- The resolution states the rate increase will not be applied to the Business Nowra CBD sub-category, and about $59,818 will instead be spread to the Business Commercial/Industrial sub-category.
- Council approved releasing the remaining balances of the Strategic Projects Reserve, Industrial Land Reserve and Financial Sustainability Review Reserve to unrestricted General Fund cash from 1 July 2026.
- Council approved paying down the unrestricted General Fund portions of loan 1241 and loan 1242 using unrestricted cash in FY2026/27.
- The minutes state interest charges will continue to be waived for ratepayers experiencing financial hardship under council's Hardship Policy.
- A report on community feedback is to return to council in June 2026.
Why it matters
- Residents and ratepayers will be able to review and comment on Shoalhaven's proposed budget, services, projects and fees before final adoption, while the approved 3.1 per cent rate increase sets a key part of next year's household and business costs.