There will be no significant changes to our existing services and programs this year, and we will continue to provide specific services or programs that we are required to under the Local Government Act and other Acts and Regulations. We are also proposing new actions and projects this year to advance our Strategic Plan.

The table below provides a summary of our plans for the next 12 months, read more in the full document.

• Sealing of the Thompson Beach Esplanade, fully funded by the State Government.
• Improvements to the Lewiston Playground, including softfall and shade sail.
• New footpaths in Dublin, Mallala and Two Wells.
• Adelaide Plains Community Grants with a total of $25,000 available to support local community projects that make a positive contribution to our region’s community.
• Continue our youth development program.
• Pursue opportunities for youth, arts and culture.
• Consult on a Middle Beach settlement plan inclusive of Salt Creek remediation and boat ramp alterations.
• Implement traffic calming infrastructure in Two Wells Main Street to promote safer roads and new pedestrian crossings in the main street.
• A capital works program with a focus on asset renewal.

• Two Wells Town Centre project development advisor to manage our role in the development.
• Continue our Business Support Program, which provides non-financial assistance and matched funding for local businesses and residents considering starting businesses to build their capacity, create jobs and bring positive impacts to our local economy

• New stormwater management in Chapman Street, Two Wells, to address stormwater issues and infrastructure impacts in the Chapman Street catchment.
• Street/verge tree planting.

• Local government elections in November 2026.
• Strengthen our internal resourcing to improve operational efficiency, supporting Council’s growing workload in infrastructure and open spaces.

Asset renewal is the focus of this year’s capital works program, in line with our Infrastructure & Asset Management Plan. This focus includes undertaking renewals close to expiry over a 10 year period, balanced with our internal resources to complete or manage the work. We also receive $17,000 in plant trade-in value that further funds capital works. The Roads to Recovery grant from the Federal Government will also be directed towards road renewal.

• Resheeting 42km of unsealed roads
• Resealing 6km of sealed roads in Dublin, Lewiston and Windsor
• $2.78m in asset renewals (capital works) including road resheeting and resealing.
• $1.4m in new or upgraded assets including Lewiston Playground improvements and sealing 3.3km of Thompson Beach Esplanade.

program, including roads, is available on pages 64-67 of the document.

Rates are collected to fund services, infrastructure, programs and projects for our community and region. General rates are our main source of funding, representing approximately 79% of estimated total underlying operating income this year.

Rates are levied as a tax on property and are not a service or user charge. Much like other taxes we pay, the amount of rates paid by a ratepayer may not directly relate to the services they use, but contribute to the region as a whole, for today and future generations. For example, one ratepayer may walk the Lewiston trails every week but choose not to visit the library, and another ratepayer may visit the library regularly for social connection, but rarely visit nature reserves. Both of their rates contributions support their local environment and community services.

We have an average of 6.59 ratepayers for every square kilometre of our region, which is much lower than many councils in metropolitan Adelaide and this impacts our average general rate. While our region’s population is growing, more properties (and residents) also means it costs more to maintain our infrastructure and expand our services.

Rate capping

We acknowledge that not everyone will have capacity to pay a significant rate increase, so this year we are continuing a 2.8% ‘cap’ on rate increases for properties where the valuation increase is not the result of development on the property.

Read our Draft Rating Policy for the criteria, from page 72 of the document.

Proposed rates and charges for 2025/2026

The proposed increase to the average general rate across the region is 4.88%, before any rates cap is applied. However, through the application of a discretionary rates cap of 2.8% in this financial year, the majority of ratepayers will see a 2.8% average general rate increase. This includes the fixed charge (paid by every property), which is proposed to increase by 40% to $584.

What this might look like for you

The actual change you will see on your rates notice may be different to the average rate increase as your rates also depend on your property value, any development on your land, and any service charges.

The average rate increase within each land use code is higher than the actual general rate increase (2.8%) that we mention. This is because the average general rate is the ‘mean’ calculation for the region – total rates revenue divided by the total number of properties. Within each land use code, the average rate increase is different, as it is calculated within that particular land use code’s valuations and total number of properties.

Full details, including rates for all land use codes, are available in Appendix 3.

It will cost approximately $25.383m to fund this year’s business plan and day-to-day operations. That amount includes our recurrent, operating and capital expenditure. The recurrent income is sufficient to cover recurrent expenses and has a surplus of $686,000. Our proposed operating projects will cost approximately $388,000.

Recurrent and operating expenses

$20.805m

To maintain our current services, the budget forecasts an underlying operating surplus of $298,000.

Recurrent income

$21,491m

To find our business plan, and to move to a more sustainable financial position by maintaining a break-even position over time, $21,491m in income is required.

• Financial amounts in text, tables and figures may be rounded within this document. When in use, all amounts are rounded up to the nearest whole amount.
• This document is a work in progress. The information within this plan is correct as at 20 May 2026.
• Amendments may be made after consultation as new information is made available and they will be clearly explained in the final document.

Each financial year we prepare an Annual Business Plan and Budget. The business plan maps out the services and infrastructure we will deliver over the coming year, including what roads we will allocate money towards to reseal or resheet and what infrastructure will be installed or upgraded. The budget calculates what funds we need to be able to deliver these projects, which we use to calculate what rates will be for the coming year.

Councils must prepare a business plan and budget each financial year, under section 123 of the Local Government Act 1999. We publish our draft annual business plan, budget and Rating Policy together in one document, as they are informed by each other.

There is a lot of information that needs to be included in this document and many financial terms and concepts.

Financial amounts in text, tables and figures may be rounded. When in use, all amounts are rounded up to the nearest whole amount.

The document is presented in 4 key parts:

• Business plan
• Budget overview
• Rates overview
• Appendices

Our operational plan that describes the services and projects we plan to deliver this year.

How we will finance our business plan, what has influenced the budget, and an overview of our income and expenses.

How rates will be calculated, based on the budget, and a summary of how rates work.

Our Draft Budget 2026/2027, and information relevant to our business plan and budget including capital works program, Draft Rating Policy and ESCOSA report from 2023.

You may be looking for some specific information:

• Summary of the business plan and budget: pages18-28
• What we do and how we spend every $100 of expenses: pages 10-11
• Rates and charges: pages 42-55
• Capital works program: 64-67
• Financial indicators: page41
• Draft Budget 2025/2026: pages 58-63

The business plan and budget was developed over many months of meetings and workshops with Council Members, our Infrastructure & Environment Committee, Audit & Risk Committee and Council administration. We have also considered our strategic management plans and significant factors and influences, such as CPI predictions for SA, government grants, superannuation increases by the Federal Government and population growth in our region. The draft document is still a work in progress. Amendments may be made after consultation as new information is made available. The information within the Draft Annual Business Plan & Budget 2026/2027 is correct as at 20 May 2026. Any amendments will be clearly explained in the final document.

We develop our recurrent budget estimates using zero-based budgeting, where all expenses must be justified for each new accounting period. This process starts from a ‘zero base’ and each of our functions are evaluated for their needs and costs. Budgets are then constructed based on the requirements for the upcoming period, regardless of whether the budget is higher or lower than last year.