A process to identify Council-owned properties and assets that are under-performing as public facilities and places has been conducted. Several properties are ready for market and anticipated to achieve a minimum of $7 million in property sales this financial year.
So far, two properties have sold. These properties are 39a Berry Street, Nowra and 5 Kean Avenue, Sanctuary Point.
Three sites are currently on the market - 10 Pleasant Way, Nowra, 333 Illaroo Road, Bangalee and George Evans Road, Mundamia.
There are a number of properties currently under review that will go through a process that includes community consultation, before they can be considered as an option to sell. These are all displayed on an interactive map, along with any associated information on the Property Sales Program online page.
At present, Council manages a property portfolio exceeding 3,100 lots including operational, community, and Crown Land. Of these, 1,700 are classified as operational land.
There is a process to work through to enable sale of land. Operational land can be sold, however suitable community land will require reclassification and Crown Land would require ministerial consent to sell.
Money from the sale of any assets would be used to improve the balance of unrestricted cash to be drawn on as required and saved for emergencies and disaster events.
Decisions so far
Fees and charges have been adopted in the Delivery Program and Operational Plan and Budget 2024-25 to ensure they reflect cost of services provided. Some of these services include hall hire, compliance and administrative charges, entry to aquatics and gym facilities.
Decisions so far
- on 26 February 2024, Councillors resolved that fees and charges will be increased by a minimum of 7.5% (Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting 26 February 2024 - CL24.41, MIN24.85, 2: Economic parameters for budgeting management) when setting the annual budget for 2024-25. This increase to fees and charges has resulted in additional revenue expectations for FY 2024-25 of $1.3 million for general fund.
- many of Council’s services are already heavily subsidised, and whilst fees and charges may increase with ‘user pays’ sharing a higher proportion of the cost for the services, many of these will continue to be heavily subsidised by Council as part of its community service obligation, providing access to a range of services across the city
- a report was put to Council on 11 March 2024 to consider reintroducing annual fees for outdoor dining, which was deferred to a future meeting (Minutes from 11 March 2024 Ordinary Meeting - CL24.68: Financial Sustainability Monthly Report)
- on 25 March 2024, the Council resolved that fireworks for events will no longer be eligible to apply for the Community Donations Fund in the 2024-25 financial year (Minutes from 25 March 2024 Ordinary Meeting - CL24.68: Financial Sustainability Monthly Report)
- place the draft fees and charges 2024-25 on public exhibition as part of the Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan and Budget 2024-25, which includes proposed increases to hire of halls, facilities, use of recreational facilities and Shoalhaven Water water and sewer charges. (Minutes from 6 May 2024 Ordinary Meeting - CL 24.118: Draft Delivery Program Operational Plan and Budget 2024-25 - Public Exhibition)