Mayoral Memo - 22 May 2024
Financial sustainability is an ongoing issue for Councils across the State. One of the deficiencies in the current business model is the reliance on the inconsistent income stream of grants. As long as I can remember, Councils across the State want more grant income from the federal and state governments to help them deliver for their communities.
To demonstrate this variability, in the 2019-2020 financial year, Dubbo Regional Council received an historic low of $34.8 million in grants from the other two levels of government compared to the 2022-2023 financial year when $57.8 million was received.
Grants come in a variety of sizes and for a variety of reasons. Many help keep Council operational. The ones that the public remember, though, are the ones that help us build new community infrastructure.
When the $5.7 million Barden Park facility was opened in November 2014, it was only possible with $3.5 million from the federal government and $1.3 million from the State government with Council adding less than a million dollars.
In November 2012 the new playing surface of Apex Oval was opened complete with a 10 megalitre underground stormwater tank that was constructed with $4.5 million from the federal government.
In January 2019, the ribbon was cut on a $17.6 million upgrade of the airport made possible with $6.7 million from the feds and $7.5 million from the state to add to Council’s $3.4 million.
In 2016, Council spent $6.6 million on upgrading the saleyards of which the federal government provided $3.3 million.
We have also had some notable omissions when it comes to grants. Officially opened in July 2010 at a cost of $16 million, the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre is the largest community capital improvement in my time on Council. We received $0 in grants and had to put rates up by five per cent for two years to pay for it. The Western Plains Cultural Centre had its ribbon cut in February 2007. This construction cost was $8.2 million and it was fully funded by Council.
In February 2019, Council successfully secured $10.1 million from the state to add to $2.5 million from Council for three capital projects. The Macquarie Foreshore Events Precinct, the Old Dubbo Gaol Heritage Plaza and $4.2 million was tagged for a Wiradjuri Cultural Tourism Centre. As plans progressed, it became evident that significantly more funding was required for this last project. After several years of planning, designing and lobbying, it was recently announced the $15 million project could go ahead with $7.2 million from the Australian government to add to the $5.6 million from the state and $2.2 million from Council. The $7.2 million is the largest federal grant for community infrastructure ever received by this Council and this project will be the largest single community infrastructure project since the theatre.
Councillor Mathew Dickerson
Mayor of Dubbo Regional Council
Last Edited: 21 May 2024