Board adopts 10-year strategic plan for Goldenfields Water
Published on 02 May 2022
The Goldenfields Water Board held its general April council meeting on Thursday the 28th of April, with key agenda items including quarterly budget review, water production report, the adoption of the finalised Business Activity Strategic Plan as well as the endorsement of the combined Delivery Program 2022-26 and Operational Plan 2022-23.
A quarterly budget review was provided to the Board with the anticipated Operating Result for 2021/22 a deficit of $1.2 million. This was a decrease from the $1.4million estimate provided in the December quarterly review, after the Board adopted proposed adjustments to the budget. The anticipated deficit is due largely to reduced water sales as a result of unseasonal weather.
Water production across the five schemes varied, with the Jugiong and Oura schemes seeing a decrease in early January on previous years due to the unseasonably cooler weather, before a sharp increase in late January and February with the return to hotter, drier weather. Mount Arthur, Mount Daylight and Highlands Bridge were all trending in a similar fashion to historical years.
As a NSW county council, the Integrated Planning and Reporting framework for NSW local Government applies to Goldenfields Water. Council is required to have a Business Activity Strategic Plan (BASP) that identifies the main priorities for the Council for a period of at least 10 years from endorsement.
Review of the existing BASP as required every four years, saw priorities redirected in the BASP 2022-32 towards delivery of quality water service in a cost effective and efficient manner. This was after recent consultation with the constituent Councils and results from Community Surveys.
The board considered the draft Business Activity Strategic Plan at its general February meeting. At this meeting, the board resolved to place the draft plan on public exhibition for a period of 28 days. During this time, one submission was made by the public, as well as several internal submissions. These submissions were considered and incorporated into the final document which has now been adopted by the Board.
The meeting also saw a resolution to place the draft combined Delivery Program 2022-26 and Operational Plan 2022-23 (incorporating the 2022/23 budget and annual fees and charges) on public exhibition for 28 days.
The 4-year Delivery Program is a statement of commitment to the community from the newly elected Board based on the priorities set out in the BASP and is supported by the Operational Plan.
The three objectives identified within the Delivery Program included high quality, secure & efficient water supplies, customer focus, and a healthy natural environment. These objectives are to be achieved via the Operational Plan, an annual plan that sets out the details of the program and the individual items that will be undertaken each year.
The draft combined Delivery Program and Operational Plan, incorporating the proposed fees and charges for 2022/23, is now on public display and is anticipated to be adopted by the Board at the June Council meeting.
To view the document and to have your say, visit www.gwcc.nsw.gov.au/Community/Community-engagement/Have-Your-Say