2026 - 2027 Annual Business Plan and Budget

The Annual Business Plan and Budget 2026-2027 was adopted by Council at the meeting held on Wednesday 17^th of June 2026.

Council’s focus for the financial year is on supporting and strengthening our community, environment and region by developing a responsible budget which recognises our unique constraints, and delivers essential services, prudent resource management and sustainability.

Where does the operating income come from?

How is your money is spent?

Capital Works

In the 2026-2027 budget we will deliver a total capital works program of $21 million including $12.4m on renewal and $8.7m on enhancement, supported by $6.35m in external grant funding.

Some of the highlights are summarised below:

• BMX dirt bike track will invest $230k towards the community collaboration project
• Council-wide Stormwater upgrades ($609k renewal and $300k enhancement) into stormwater infrastructure
• Moorundi Wharf Renewal valued at $200k
• Public toilet upgrades of $600k to commence implementation of Public Toilet Strategy
• Swimming Centre key works valued at $288k

2025 - 2026 Annual Business Plan and Budget

The Annual Business Plan and Budget 2025-2026 was adopted by Council at the meeting held on Monday 23 June 2025.

The approved Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2025–26, focusing on maintaining core services while planning for future growth.

The $73.4 million budget includes important projects across the region, such as:

• Upgrades to East Side infrastructure
• A new Stormwater Management Plan
• Open Space Master Plan development
• Footpath expansion
• Next stage of the Swanport Road Masterplan
• Wharf Hill lighting upgrades
• Support for the Murraylands Skills Centre
• Delivery of the Major Events Program

Mayor Wayne Thorley said the budget reflects Council’s commitment to planning ahead and looking after what matters most.

“We’re making sure we’re ready for the future while continuing to invest in the services and spaces our community values,” he said.

Mayor Thorley thanked community members who engaged in the consultation process who provided valuable feedback.

2024 - 2025 Annual Business Plan and Budget

The Annual Business Plan and Budget 2024 - 2025 was adopted by Council at the meeting held on Monday 24 June 2024.

The approved Rural City of Murray Bridge Annual Business Plan and Budget 2024 -2025 reflects Council's commitment to balancing the needs of a growing City while navigating tough economic times.

Mayor Wayne Thorley said “Council recognises the cost-of-living pressures facing our community. We have made significant efforts to fund these costs through internal efficiency savings. By doing so we have been able to implement a budget with a 4.3% average rate increase for existing rate payers for 2024/25, which is in line with the March 2024 (Adelaide) Consumer Price Index rate of 4.3%. We are also reducing the rate in the dollar by 8.2%. This is the third consecutive year a decrease has been delivered, with an average of 8.4% per year and a total reduction of 23% over three years”

“We will continue to be flexible and reflect on our approach to service delivery to ensure we’re meeting the needs of our growing communities, as part of our Strategic Plan for the next four years”, said Mayor Thorley.

In the coming year, several headline projects will be delivered to enhance the city's infrastructure and support economic growth. These projects include a wharf precinct upgrade as part of the Sturt Reserve Masterplan, the establishment of a Co-Working Business Hub and Economic Recovery Centre in the heart of Murray Bridge and the development of strategic plans to facilitate the future growth of our Rural City.

Mayor Thorley thanked community members who engaged in the consultation process who provided valuable feedback.

The following Information Sheets were included as reference to information provided during the consultation process.

Fact Sheet Growth
Fact Sheet Footpaths
Fact Sheet Grants, Sponsorships, Awards and Events
Fact Sheet Kerbing Program
Fact Sheet Murraylands Skills Centre
Fact Sheet Roads Program  
RCMB Rating Policy
Water and Sewerage Retail Services Hardship Policy
Rates Financial Hardship Policy
Schedule of Fees and Charges
Statement of Comprehensive Income
Net Financial Indicators
Long Term Financial Plan 2023-24

Where does the income come from?

How is the money spent?

As per Council’s Comprehensive Statement of Income, expenditure for 2024/25 is budgeted at $58.5 million.

• $28.2 million on Employee Costs to deliver Services
• $17.2 million on Materials and Contractors to deliver Services (this includes $1.9 million on Key Projects (nett $1.5 million))
• $1 million on Financing Costs
• $12.1 million of Depreciation

Operating Expenditure

For every $100 of expenditure, the following amounts will be spend on the services provided:

Capital Projects (Net Expenditure)

2023-2024 Annual Business Plan and Budget

The Annual Business Plan and Budget 2023-24 was adopted by Council at the meeting held 10 July 2023.

Download your copy here

The approved Rural City of Murray Bridge Annual Business Plan and Budget 2023-2024, reflects Council's commitment to balancing the needs of a growing City while navigating tough economic times.

Mayor Wayne Thorley highlighted the importance of finding the right balance to produce the best possible outcome for the Council over the next 12 months. "Following a year of resilience that saw the greatest natural disaster for our community in a generation, the Murray River Flood, we will continue to work together in the current financial climate to protect our Thriving Communities," he stated.

The Annual Business Plan was approved unchanged, in line with community sentiment following extensive community consultation.  Feedback received indicated that the Plan is financially responsible, sustainable and sensitive to the cost of living pressures facing ratepayers.

Mayor Wayne Thorley said “Faced with a rise in property valuations of almost 20 percent, an Adelaide, March CPI (Consumer Price Index) of 7.9%, Murray River flood impacts and the general rising costs of doing business, our overriding concern for this budget has been to absorb the impact and buffer residents from further financial pain as much as possible.”

Through careful financial planning, Council has achieved approximately $1.4 million worth of savings in services and projects. Additionally, grant funding has been secured where possible, and the rate in the dollar for calculating rates was reduced by 10.1 percent.

This will still mean a higher rates increase for our community than we’ve experienced for some time at 6.9% but this will also ensure Council continues to deliver core services such as waste collection, road repairs and aged care to the same high standard our community expects.

In the coming year, several headline projects will be delivered to enhance the city's infrastructure and support economic growth. These projects include a wharf precinct upgrade as part of the Sturt Reserve Masterplan, the establishment of a Co-Working Business Hub and Economic Recovery Centre in the heart of Murray Bridge and the development of strategic plans to facilitate the future growth of our Rural City.

Mayor Thorley thanked community members who engaged in the consultation process who provided valuable feedback. "What's important to our community is important to Council and working together is how we continue to support our Thriving Communities,"

The following Let's Talk Program Information Sheets were included as reference to information provided during the consultation process.

• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2023-24 Footpath Expansion Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2023-24 Kerbing Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2023-24 Building Renewal Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2023-24 Stormwater Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2023-24 Plant and Fleet Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2023-24 Roads Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2023-24 Major Event Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2023-24 Co Working Space

Hard copies are available, by request at:
- The Local Government Centre. 2 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge
- Murray Bridge Library, Level 2, 51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge

Where does the income come from?

How is the money spent?

We have budgeted to spend $50.9million in 2023-24. This includes:

• $25.3 million on Employee Costs to deliver Services
• $13.6 million on Materials and Contractors to deliver Services
• $0.8 million on Financing Costs
• $1.9 million on Key Projects
• $9.0 million on the renewal and replacement of existing assets
• $0.3 million on new assets and significant upgrades through Capital Projects.

Capital Projects (Net Expenditure)

2022-2023 Annual Business Plan and Budget

The Annual Business Plan and Budget 2022-23 was adopted by Council at the meeting held 14 June 2022.

Download your copy here

Greening local reserves and taking care of local roads, are some of the visible projects happening in the year ahead, following the approval of the Murray Bridge Council budget.

The Rural City of Murray Bridge Annual Business Plan and Budget 2022-23 has been approved and the Council is moving forward with plans to consolidate and progress the development of the township and surrounds.

The $44.8 million budget includes $35.1 million for services and key projects, and $9.7 million for new infrastructure assets and significant upgrades.

Meaningful projects include $3.2 million in road renewals and a Greenspace program to irrigate open spaces (including Magpie Reserve and Rotary Jubilee Park), replacement of the Woodlane Reserve jetty with a floating pontoon and continued upgrades for Sturt Reserve.
Council obtained significant grant money to create a Regional Stadium at the showgrounds, by expanding existing facilities for basketball and other sports, and other  successful funding will bring to life the Swanport Road reclaimed water pipeline (to recycle stormwater and reduce pressure on the Murray River).

Mayor Lewis said the Rural City was building capacity for a growing community, while being fiscally responsible and mindful of increasing pressures on family budgets.

“Murray Bridge is changing - we’re creating an environment where you can make your own opportunities, make a home, make an investment, and make memories,” he said.

“This Plan outlines the third delivery year of our current Strategic Plan and is instrumental in achieving our long term aspiration of Thriving Communities.

“Confidence in what we’re doing has resulted in ongoing success with attracting grants that enable us to continue building beneficial community infrastructure, in the face of tough external economic challenges.

“This year we’re undertaking $9.7m in capital works, including $0.9m in new works, due to Council’s rigorous commitment to financial sustainability.

“We’ve been able to achieve this while keeping the burden on ratepayers as low as possible and implementing an average rate increase of 3.5% - which is considerably less than the March 2022 Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase of 4.7%.

The following Let's Talk Program Information Sheets were included as reference to information provided during the consultation process.

• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2022-23 Footpath Expansion Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2022-23 Kerb Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2022-23 Recreational Facilities
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2022-23 Stormwater Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2022-23 Tree Planting Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2022-23 Roads Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2022-23 Building Renewal Program

Hard copies are available, by request at:
- The Local Government Centre. 2 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge
- Murray Bridge Library, Level 2, 51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge

Where does the income come from?

How is the money spent?

We have budgeted to spend $44.8 million in 2022-23. This includes $35.1 million on Services and Key Projects, $9.7 million on new assets and significant upgrades through Capital Projects.

Capital Projects (Net Expenditure)

2021-2022 Annual Business Plan and Budget

The Annual Business Plan and Budget 2021-22 was adopted by Council at the meeting held 15 June 2021.

The Rural City of Murray Bridge has more projects on the way to create an environment of growth and opportunity in 2021-2022, hot on the heels of a record-breaking infrastructure roll out over the 2020-21 financial year. Please read the Annual Business Plan and see how we intend to continue building a safe, proud and progressive place to live, work and play.

Murray Bridge is changing with programs, projects and services planned for the coming financial year feeding into our collective vision of creating Thriving Communities and a sustainable future – in a financially responsible way.

The 2021-22 Annual Business Plan has a strong environmental focus that tackles the impact of climate change and ensures better water management through water sensitive urban design - including the greening of Swanport Road using recycled storm water.

There are plans to improve the built environment and activate outdoor spaces with major works in the heart of Murray Bridge, Sturt Reserve and outer townships - including Monarto and Wellington.

Council plan to improve movement and connectivity through projects such as a new digital information sign on Adelaide Road near the Truck Driver’s Memorial, updated Lerwin signage, a shared path on Hindmarsh Road and upgraded town entrances.

The following Let's Talk Program Information Sheets are included as reference to information provided during the consultation process.

• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2021-22 Footpath Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2021-22 Kerb Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2021-22 Roads Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2021-22 Buildings Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2021-22 Outer Towns Open Space Program - Monarto and Wellington

Hard copies are available at:
- The Local Government Centre. 2 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge
- Murray Bridge Library, Level 2, 51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge

Where does the income come from?

How is the money spent?

We have budgeted to spend $45.4 million in 2021-22. This includes $32.2 million on Services and Key Projects, $13.2 million on new assets and significant upgrades through Capital Projects.

Capital Projects (Net Expenditure)