Wagga Wagga City Council this week adopted its Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) suite of documents, including an overall budget of $277.1 million for the 2025/26 financial year.
Council's total operating expenditure budget for the next financial year is $163.9 million, with an additional capital expenditure program of $113.2 million.
Included in the IP&R suite, adopted on 23 June, are Council's Delivery Program 2025/2029 and Operational Plan 2025/26, Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) 2025/26, and Fees and Charges 2025/26.
Deputy Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Georgie Davies said these documents are designed to turn community priorities, identified through the Wagga Wagga 2050 - Community Strategic Plan, into real action.
"These are our plans to deliver services and projects to make Wagga Wagga and its surrounding villages vibrant, growing and sustainable," Cr Davies said.
"We will continue to focus on renewing and replacing ageing facilities, roads and drainage as well as constructing new assets in our suburbs.
"Council will also continue to fight for long term tenure at the Wagga Airport and maintain our strong advocacy to ensure housing supply keeps pace with Wagga Wagga's current and projected growth."
Capital works projects and programs account for more than $113.2 million of the planned activities for the 2025/26 financial year.
Among the significant one-off capital works projects are:
- Lake Albert Water Sports and Event Precinct
- Southern Growth Area - Plumpton Road Project
- Northern Growth Area – Sewer Upgrades
- Active Travel (continuation of stages 1 to 3)
- Levee System Upgrade - North Wagga (early planning and investigation)
- Gregadoo Waste Management Centre Upgrades
- Oasis Energy Efficiency Upgrade.
The $53.9 million allocation for roads includes one-off projects ($40.4 million) and recurrent program ($13.5 million), such as works on the Gregadoo Road and Pine Gully Road corridors, the Pavement Rehabilitation Program ($6.4 million), and the Reseal Program – Renewal ($2.8 million).
Council has forecast a balance budget for 2025/26.
"Arriving at this balanced position was a complex and challenging task as, like other local government organisations across the state, we're facing a growing income gap as costs increase at a greater rate than revenue," Cr Davies said.
"The regulatory environment, constrained revenue growth, the rising cost of providing services, and increasing demands on our existing infrastructure and facilities and services are all placing pressure on Council's long-term sustainability.
"These factors will require Council to be highly innovative and efficient in delivering the Operational Plan and Delivery Plan items."
The 2025/26 budget also includes about $2.5 million in contributions, grants and donations provided by Council to the community.
