Supporting our community today and into the future
Temora Shire Council has completed its formal community consultation on the proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV) options as part of its broader work to strengthen the long-term financial sustainability of the Shire.
Formal consultation was undertaken from 17 July to 28 August 2026, providing residents, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders with the opportunity to review the proposed options, understand the challenges facing Council and provide feedback on the future of the Shire.
A total of 659 unique submitters participated in the consultation through Council’s survey, a third-party survey, templated submissions and individually written submissions.
Council has now collated and reviewed the feedback received. The Community Engagement Report provides an overview of the consultation process, the feedback received and the key themes emerging from the community’s responses.
The feedback received through the consultation will help inform Council’s ongoing consideration of the Shire’s long-term financial sustainability and the next steps in the SRV process.
View the Securing Our Future: Community Engagement Report here.(PDF, 33MB)
Read the full accompanying media release here.
Council is continuing to work through the information and feedback received, with Councillors to consider the consultation outcomes before determining whether to proceed with an application to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
This webpage will continue to be updated as the process progresses and further information becomes available.
While formal consultation has now closed, the dedicated SRV Consultation webpage remains available to access the consultation materials, information and resources provided throughout the process.
Early Insights Survey
Thank you to everyone who participated in Council's Early Insights Survey and shared their views on long-term financial sustainability.
The survey was the first stage of Council's community engagement process and aimed to better understand community awareness, priorities and perspectives regarding Council services, infrastructure and financial sustainability. It provided Council with valuable early feedback to help inform future discussions and decision-making.
Council is continuing to investigate a range of options to improve its long-term financial sustainability. One option that may be considered in the future is a Special Rate Variation (SRV); however, no decision has been made.
You can read our full Early Insights Survey: Engagement Report here.(PDF, 1MB)
Our Financial Sustainability Journey
Financial sustainability is not a new conversation.
Over recent years, Council has been undertaking significant work to strengthen its long-term financial position and improve the way it plans, manages and delivers services.
This work has included:
- Developing a Financial Sustainability Strategy(PDF, 471KB)
- Preparing long-term financial and asset management plans.
- Identifying organisational efficiency and productivity improvements.
- Reviewing services and operational expenditure.
- Seeking grant funding to deliver infrastructure projects where possible.
- Advocating for improved funding and addressing the impacts of cost shifting.
- Improving financial reporting, planning and transparency.
- Engaging with the community through the Early Insights Survey.
This work continues as Council explores options to ensure it can sustainably deliver services and infrastructure into the future.
You can watch our explanatory videos below to learn more about the work we are doing.
What is Financial Sustainability?
Financial sustainability means balancing what Council spends, what it earns and what it needs to maintain and improve over time.
For Council, this involves four key areas.
Delivering essential services
Council delivers a wide range of everyday services including:
- Road maintenance
- Waste collection
- Parks and playgrounds
- Libraries
- Community facilities
- Regulatory services
- Recreation and community services
Maintaining infrastructure
Council is responsible for a large network of community assets including:
- Roads and bridges
- Buildings and community facilities
- Parks and sporting facilities
- Drainage
- Footpaths
- Public spaces
These assets require ongoing maintenance and, eventually, replacement.
Planning for the future
Council plans ahead to ensure we can meet:
- future community needs
- population and demographic changes
- long-term infrastructure renewal
- changing service expectations.
Living within our means
Financial sustainability means ensuring:
- ongoing costs remain affordable
- debt is managed responsibly
- future generations are not left with growing financial pressures.
A financially sustainable Council is better placed to continue delivering services, maintaining infrastructure and responding to unexpected events.
Financial sustainability underpins Council’s ability to deliver on Our Plan for the Future(PDF, 30MB) and ensures that Temora Shire remains a strong, vibrant, and resilient community.
Why Financial Sustainability Matters
Like households and businesses, Council faces increasing costs every year.
Construction materials, fuel, insurance, utilities, contractor costs and wages have all increased significantly in recent years.
At the same time, Council's ability to increase its largest source of income—ordinary rates—is limited through the NSW rate pegging system.
Many of Council's assets are also ageing and require increasing investment to maintain and eventually replace.
These factors mean Council must continue planning carefully, improving efficiencies and considering a range of options to ensure services and infrastructure remain sustainable over the long term.
How Council is Funded?
Council relies on a range of income sources to provide services and maintain infrastructure:
Rates
Rates make up around 21% of Council's income and help fund many of the everyday services our community relies upon.
Grants and funding
Council receives State and Federal Government grants for specific projects and services.
Most grants are tied to particular programs and cannot be redirected to fund everyday operating costs such as road maintenance, parks, libraries or other ongoing services.
Fees and charges
These include user fees such as:
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Waste services
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Facility hire
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Regulatory services
Other income
Other income includes investments, interest earnings and other minor revenue sources.
Council's Current Financial Position
Council carefully monitors its financial performance to support responsible decision-making and long-term sustainability.
Like many regional councils across New South Wales, Council's financial position is being affected by a combination of factors, including:
- rising costs of materials, labour and services
- ageing infrastructure requiring ongoing renewal
- limited growth in revenue
- increasing costs being transferred from other levels of government
- increasing community expectations.
Council's 2026/27 Budget currently forecasts an operating deficit of approximately $2.7 million, highlighting the ongoing financial challenges facing local government.
Council has already implemented a significant number of efficiency improvements and savings initiatives; however, further work is required to ensure essential services and infrastructure remain financially sustainable into the future.
Council remains committed to careful financial management, long-term planning and keeping the community informed as future options continue to be explored.
What Council is Doing?
Council is actively working to strengthen its long-term financial sustainability through a range of initiatives.
Long-term financial planning
Council prepares and regularly reviews its Long-Term Financial Plan to guide future decision-making.
Asset management planning
Council plans for the maintenance and replacement of community infrastructure to reduce unexpected costs and support responsible investment.
Organisational Efficiency
Council continues identifying opportunities to improve productivity, reduce costs and deliver better value for money.
Seeking External Funding
Council continues to pursue grant funding wherever possible to deliver projects that benefit the community.
Advocacy
Council works with industry organisations and government to advocate for improved funding arrangements and highlight the impacts of cost shifting on local government.
Community Engagement
Council is committed to providing clear information and engaging with the community throughout its financial sustainability journey.
Learn more
You can learn more about Council’s financial position through the following documents:
FAQ's:
What does financial sustainability mean for Council?
Financial sustainability means Council can continue delivering the services, facilities and infrastructure our community relies on while remaining financially responsible over the long term.
It means balancing income and expenditure, maintaining important community assets, planning ahead and ensuring future generations are not left with growing financial challenges.
A financially sustainable Council is better able to respond to unexpected events, invest in the future and continue delivering essential services.
Why is Council talking about Financial Sustainability now?
Like many councils across New South Wales, Temora Shire Council is experiencing increasing financial pressure.
The cost of delivering services and maintaining infrastructure has risen significantly in recent years, while Council's ability to increase its largest source of income—ordinary rates—is limited through the NSW rate pegging system.
Council is committed to planning ahead and being transparent with the community about the financial challenges it faces and the options being explored.
What is an operating deficit?
An operating deficit occurs when Council's day-to-day operating expenses are greater than its operating income.
This does not necessarily mean Council has run out of cash. Rather, it indicates that ongoing income is not sufficient to cover the ongoing cost of delivering services and maintaining assets.
Running operating deficits over a number of years is generally not financially sustainable and may reduce Council's ability to maintain services and infrastructure into the future.
How is Council funded?
Council receives income from several sources, including:
- Rates
- State and Federal Government grants
- Fees and charges
- Interest and investments
- Other minor revenue sources.
Each source plays a different role in funding Council's operations, services and infrastructure.
What do my rates pay for?
Rates help fund essential services such as roads, waste collection, parks, community facilities, and general Council operations.
Has Council already made savings and improvements?
Yes.
Improving Council's long-term financial sustainability has been an ongoing focus for several years.
Council has implemented a range of efficiency and productivity improvements(PDF, 2MB), reviewed expenditure, strengthened financial planning, sought grant funding, improved asset management and developed long-term strategies to better manage future financial pressures.
This work continues as part of Council's commitment to responsible financial management.
Why can't grant funding solve the problem?
Grants are an important source of funding, but they are generally provided for specific projects or programs.
Most grant funding cannot be used to pay for everyday operating costs such as road maintenance, staffing, utilities or ongoing service delivery.
Grant funding has helped Council deliver many important community projects over the years, but it is not designed to fund Council's day-to-day operations.
Why can't Council reduce services or staffing instead?
Council continually reviews its services and operations to identify efficiencies and ensure value for money.
Many of Council's services are required by legislation, while others have been identified by the community as important to the liveability and wellbeing of Temora Shire.
The Early Insights Survey highlighted strong community support for maintaining essential infrastructure, local services and community facilities.
Council will continue looking for efficiencies while balancing community expectations, service levels and long-term financial sustainability.
What happens if Council does nothing?
If Council's financial position continues to decline over time, it may become increasingly difficult to maintain existing service levels, renew ageing infrastructure and respond to future community needs.
Council's goal is to plan ahead so that decisions can be made carefully, transparently and with community input where appropriate.
Can Council increase rates whenever it wants?
No.
Ordinary rates are generally limited by the annual rate peg set by IPART.
If Council believes a larger increase is necessary, it must apply to IPART for approval through a Special Rate Variation process.
This process includes strict requirements, including demonstrating financial need and undertaking community consultation before an application can be considered.
What is a Special Rate Variation (SRV)?
A Special Rate Variation (SRV) is an application that a council can make to IPART seeking approval to increase rates above the annual rate peg.
An SRV is designed to help councils address financial sustainability challenges or fund specific long-term priorities.
IPART independently assesses every application against a range of criteria before making a decision.
Has Council decided to apply for an SRV?
No.
Council has not made any decision to apply for a Special Rate Variation.
Council is currently exploring a range of options to improve its long-term financial sustainability. A potential SRV is one option that may be considered in the future.
If Council decides to consider this option further, it would first need to resolve to undertake formal community consultation before any application could be made.
What would happen if Council proceeds to formal consultation?
If Council resolves to undertake formal consultation, the community would be provided with detailed information about the options being considered and opportunities to provide feedback.
Council would consider all community feedback before making any decision about whether to submit an application to IPART.
Formal consultation does not mean a decision has been made. It is an opportunity for the community to understand the proposal and have their say before Council determines its next steps.
How can I stay informed or provide feedback?
Council will continue providing updates throughout its financial sustainability journey.
You can stay informed by:
- Visiting Council’s website for updates
- Signing up to Council newsletters
- Following Council’s social media channels
- Attending future community information sessions or consultations
Further opportunities for feedback will be provided if Council proceeds to formal consultation on a Special Rate Variation.
To get in touch:
Community input will help inform future planning and decision-making.