Hello,
Happy Tuesday!
And it’s the Tuesday before a Council meeting, which means we’re going to jump into what’s on the agenda for next week and how it might impact you.
Today’s newsletter is 907 words, a 5 minute read.
First: Last year’s $106.5 million surplus, sort of
Council will be asked to endorse its 2025-2026 financial statements, which show a net operating surplus of $106.5 million.
However: According to the staff report, one-off items significantly influenced that result and don’t reflect council’s underlying operational performance. Excluding capital grants and contributions, staff put the underlying operating surplus at $13.9 million.
Resident impact: Council’s estimates are relatively stable over the next 10 years, enough to fund services and renewals. They do highlight that the draft method for sharing federal Financial Assistance Grants would, as proposed, affect its ability to maintain services.
Worth knowing: The staff report names three one-off items that make the surplus look a lot bigger than it otherwise would:
$53.7 million in non-cash assets received through West Dapto development.
$31.0 million from the Australian Government’s Financial Assistance Grant, received early, and;
$29.0 million linked to the Stream Hill land sale.
What’s ahead: Staff have recommended that the audited statements and auditor’s report be presented to the public after the meeting.
Second: A regional plan on energy hardship
The Wollongong Energy Equity Framework is a shared plan to improve access to affordable, reliable and clean energy. Council will be asked to adopt it next Monday.
The stakes: The framework is a pledge, not a program. If endorsed, Council would invite organisations to sign it and commit to its four principles:
Energy equity in program design. Local energy programs are designed and delivered to reduce energy hardship and deliver measurable outcomes for priority communities.
Energy literacy. Residents are informed and supported to confidently manage their household energy needs.
Advocacy and policy. Energy equity is built into local policy, planning and investment decisions, so the benefits of the clean energy transition are shared fairly.
Collaboration. Regional stakeholders share knowledge and information, which helps partnerships, resource sharing, coordinated programs and advocacy.
Worth knowing:
About one in five eligible households aren’t claiming the NSW Low Income Household Energy Rebate, according to the report.
Under the framework, council would report yearly on three measures: households spending 10% or more of income on energy, homes with solar, and rebate uptake.
What’s ahead: If council adopts it, the framework will be submitted to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, which council has signed.
Third: Updated rules for how council meetings run
A new Code of Meeting Practice is going before Council, which is the rulebook for how council meetings run.
The stakes: The NSW Legislative Council cancelled the 2025 model code for councils’ meeting rules on 26 May 2026, so the 2021 version came into effect again. Any part of council’s code that clashes with it can’t be used, the report says.
Worth knowing:
Staff removed a section on councillor workshops and meetings on non-agenda topics because the Office of Local Government hasn’t released promised FAQs.
A late submission from Neighbourhood Forum 5 said council workshops aren’t in the “spirit of the law, re transparency”, and recommended Council trial open workshops.
What’s ahead: Staff say they will keep seeking feedback from the Office of Local Government on workshops and may update the code if required.
Also on the agenda
Figtree Oval’s amenities upgrade drew three tenders that council’s evaluation panel judged unacceptable, and staff recommend declining them all and negotiating instead.
Council secured a $22 million loan for the West Dapto Road Upgrade (Stage 5). Its investments also beat their benchmark in August but not September, according to the investment report.
A councillor wants a workshop on AI to cover current and potential uses of AI, privacy, cybersecurity and ethical considerations, and how other councils and government agencies govern it.
Councillors will be asked to note three submissions already lodged with NSW bodies, including one on pay categories for councillors and mayors.
Staff recommend selling a landlocked park at 10 Lyndon Street, Corrimal, to neighbours, and granting a right to drain water over a Woonona laneway.
An updated fraud and corruption prevention policy would go on public exhibition for 28 days. Three returns declaring council officials’ financial interests will also be tabled.
Two supplier panels are up for approval: six firms for construction materials, worth $6 million including GST, and five for project management.
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That’s a wrap
You might have noticed this edition landed a little earlier than usual. A few of you asked to read The Civic Report with your morning coffee, so I’m aiming for this to be the new delivery time.
Let’s see how I go. If it’s ever late, you’ll know the council meeting ran long the night before.
As always, if you want to dig deeper into any of the issues coming up at next weeks meeting, the full business papers can be found here.
And if you have any questions or comments, just reply directly to this email and I will try to respond as quickly as possible.
Talk soon,
Liam
