funding · Waverley Council
Waverley puts draft 2026-27 budget and fees on public exhibition, adds $200,000 for Bondi Road plan
Residents and businesses will have 28 days to review Waverley Council’s draft budget, pricing policy and long term financial plan, which now includes brought-forward funding for the Bondi Road Streetscape Master Plan.
Waverley Council will publicly exhibit its draft 2026-27 budget, pricing policy and long term financial plan for 28 days, giving residents and businesses a chance to comment on proposed fees, spending and longer-term financial settings.
The decision was made at the council meeting on 21 April. Councillors also amended the draft package to bring forward $200,000 in the 2026-27 capital works program for development of the Bondi Road Streetscape Master Plan, with funding to come from the Strategic Asset Management Plan renewal program for street footpaths.
The exhibited documents include the draft Pricing Policy, Fees and Charges 2026-27, draft Budget 2026-27 and draft Long Term Financial Plan 7.1. Council also added a $500,000 allocation for construction of the CSIRO viewing platform in 2027-28, on the assumption the full amount is grant funded from external sources.
For ratepayers, businesses and community groups, the exhibition period is the main chance to review proposed fees and charges and broader budget priorities before the plans are finalised. The long term financial plan sets out intended projects and initiatives over the next 11 years and is to be reviewed annually alongside the operational plan and annual budget.
The minutes record that councillors also noted a projected total cost of $32.31 million for redevelopment of the Council Chambers site, revised from $18.93 million in the previous long term financial plan. The funding strategy cited in the resolution includes $5 million in anticipated grants, $9.86 million from the council general fund and a projected shortfall of $17.45 million to be funded through loan financing.
Council carried the budget exhibition motion on the casting vote of the chair. The adopted resolution authorises the General Manager or delegate to source the loan from approved financial institutions, with a further report on loan details due to council in the second quarter of the 2026-27 financial year.
The draft documents are now due to go on exhibition for 28 days. The minutes also say tables in the long term financial plan are to be amended before exhibition to include the total unrestricted balance of each year in the reserve balance statement.
Reference minutes
Source: Waverley Council meeting of 21 April 2026, as recorded in the public minutes.
Key facts from the minutes
- Waverley Council approved 28-day public exhibition of the draft Pricing Policy, Fees and Charges 2026-27, draft Budget 2026-27 and draft Long Term Financial Plan 7.1.
- Council brought forward $200,000 in 2026-27 to develop the Bondi Road Streetscape Master Plan.
- The Bondi Road funding is to come from the 2026-27 Strategic Asset Management Plan renewal program for street footpaths.
- Council added a $500,000 allocation for the CSIRO viewing platform in 2027-28, subject to the full amount being grant funded from external sources.
- The minutes record a projected total cost of $32.31 million for redevelopment of the Council Chambers site, with a projected $17.45 million shortfall to be funded via loan financing.
- The budget exhibition motion was carried on the casting vote of the chair.
Why it matters
- The exhibition opens formal public feedback on next year’s fees, budget priorities and long-term spending, while also adding early funding for planning work on Bondi Road.