Port Macquarie-Hastings Council met at the final hour to discuss the highly-contested budget for the 2022-2023 financial years.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council budget adopted with 12-month rate freeze.

Rates have been frozen for 12 months and the Town Centre Master Plan (TCMP) levy retained, at least for now. Port Macquarie-Hastings Council made the decisions at its second extraordinary meeting in six days.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (PMHC) will enact its new financial plans after Councillors resolved to adopt a budget and several other associated documents at Wednesday’s extraordinary meeting.

Councillors adopted the annual Operational Plan (and budget), resolving to keep the Ordinary Rates at their 2021/2022 level for one year, and to continue with the Town Centre Masterplan (TCMP) component.

Councillors also resolved to adopt a four-year Delivery Program and Resourcing Strategy, the Fees and Charges and set the Rates for the 2022/2023 financial year.

The total 2022/2023 budgeted expenditure, (excluding depreciation and loss on disposal of assets), will be $288.9m, with total revenues expected to be $256.3 million.

$166 million will be spent on capital works projects including the duplication of Ocean Drive and construction of the airport parallel taxiway project, right through to upgrades to our wastewater treatment plants, high traffic road resurfacing and LGA-wide footpath and sewer upgrades.

The adoption of Wednesday’s budget sets the financial plan for the community’s future, which will include drawing down on reserve funds to meet the budgeted shortfall of the one-year rate freeze.

Port Macquarie Hastings Mayor Peta Pinson said she was thrilled to be able to deliver her first budget of the new Council.

“Today’s budget shows that we have listened to what the community has to say, with parks, roads, footpaths, sewer and water – the core services of Council’s business – receiving the bulk of a widespread investment in critical infrastructure projects,” Mayor Pinson said.

PMHC CEO Dr Clare Allen said the setting of today’s budget will allow Council to deliver significant investment in asset maintenance and renewals across our core areas such as roads, storm water, water, sewer, footpaths and open spaces on behalf of our community.

Dr Allen said “Council plans to focus on returning to surplus by developing, and then implementing, a comprehensive improvement plan focusing on asset management planning, efficiency reviews of operational areas, enhanced technology solutions and more efficient procurement solutions.

Video By | Jemma Pepper