2023/24 Draft Plans, Budget, Fees & Charges

How are we spending your ratepayer dollars? Find out the details and give us your feedback in our annual budget and plans.

Background

Councils are required to prepare a suite of Integrated Planning and Reporting documents each year under the Local Government Act 1993. The suite of these documents generally aligns with the term of the elected council. The requirements include a Delivery Program for the term of the council and an Operational Plan (including Budget) that sets out Council's recurrent actions (activities) and new initiatives (projects) for the coming 12 months.

The Draft 2023/24 Budget has been developed with three principal objectives:

• Maintain existing services and service levels;
• Achieve a balanced budget; and
• Ensure Council's financial position and performance is sustainable long term

The Draft 2023/24 Budget includes a budgeted operating surplus of $78k (essentially a balanced budget). This figure excludes capital grants and contributions.

New initiatives

New capital works featuring in the Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan, including:

• Construction of a new Sport and Recreation Facility
• Bob Campbell Oval Masterplan Implementation Works
• New Multifunction Theatre Space
• New Skate Park at Blackman Park
• Lane Cove Aquatic Centre Energy Efficiency Improvement Program
• Village Streetscape Improvement Works (Stage 2) along Burns Bay Road
• Traffic signal works at Mowbray Road and Centennial Avenue
• Completion of new cycleway along Burns Bay Road, Linley Point
• Bus shelter upgrade works
• Amenities upgrade works at Pottery Green
• Playground upgrades at Nichols Reserve and Woodford Bay Reserve
• Drainage and irrigation works at Tantallon Oval

In addition, there a range of new operating initiatives in the Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan, including:

• Review of the Age Friendly Strategy
• Develop a Social Inclusion Strategy
• Implement a watercraft hire arrangement to support the expansion of kayaking on Lane Cove River
• Develop a Masterplan for Burns Bay Reserve and Stringybark Creek Reserve
• Introduce a Community Renewable Energy Program, including a Rebates Program
• Review and update the Lane Cove Development Control Plan to improve sustainability and incorporate provisions for the strategic rollout of EV charging infrastructure
• Continue the Renewable Energy Future Program in Lane Cove for community emissions
• Implement the Emissions Reduction Pathway Strategy for council emissions
• Develop an Affordable/Key Worker Housing Statement
• Introduce a 'Car Free Sunday' event
• Introduce a 'Car Boot Community Market'
• Introduce a Problem Waste Collection Point within The Canopy Carpark
• Implement pilot 'living seawalls' at Tambourine Bay and Woodford Bay
• Implement bushland encroachment reduction strategy
• Support activation of the Village Streetscapes Improvements
• Full implementation of new Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee
• Implement a Council Resolution Tracker
• Review the Procurement Policy
• Commence planning for the refurbishment of the Civic Centre
• Introduce a dedicated Call Centre to improve customer experience
• Launch new Council Website and Engagement HQ
• Review the Workforce Management Plan
• Transition to cashless facilities and remove merchant fees for credit card transactions

Sustainability Initiatives

Council continues to fast track sustainability initiatives utilising funds from the Sustainability Levy. Sustainability Projects for 2023/24 include:

• Every Child a Bushland Experience
• Greener Apartments
• Powerful Owl Project Support
• Rope Access Noxious Weed Control
• Streamwatch and National Waterbug Blitz Programs
• Volunteer Bushcare Program
• Warraroon Wetlands Restoration
• Native Garden/Disability Support Program
• Urban Rewilding Linkage Project
• Solar for Business
• Sustainable Building Advisory Service
• Lovetts Reserve Biodiversity Protection
• On the Verge (previously called Nature Strip Conversion Project)
• Saltmarsh Restoration
• Climate Resilience Events and Communications
• Canopy Recycling Station
• Bushwalk Tracks Safety Audit Contribution
• Warraroon Reserve Insect Survey
• Installing Solar with Confidence
• Lane Cove Goes Circular
• Skate Park Upcycled Sculpture
• Sustainability Contribution to the new Sport and Recreation Facility
• Sustainable Council Buildings (solar projects)
• Woodford Bay Erosion Control

Council's Delivery Program and Operational Plan is underpinned by a Resourcing Strategy that includes a Long Term Financial Plan, an Asset Management Plan and a Workforce Management Plan.

Have your say

You can have your say by:

• Completing the online survey

Alternatively, you can make a submission to the General Manager quoting the reference 'SU9278', by:

• Post: PO Box 20, Lane Cove 1595
• Email: service@lanecove.nsw.gov.au

Submissions close Wednesday, 07 June 2023