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)

2020-2021 Annual Business Plan and Budget

The Annual Business Plan and Budget 2020-21 was adopted by Council at the meeting held 9 June 2020.

The plan represents the first year of delivery of our Strategic Plan 2020-2024 and is instrumental in achieving our Community Plan 2016-2032 aspiration of Thriving Communities.

This plan is focused on the implementation of strategies endorsed by the current Council and includes proposed allocations to progress the Riverfront Strategy, Public Toilet Strategy, Playspace Strategy, Footpath Expansion Strategy and continues this Council’s commitment to the beautification of our Town Entrances.

This ongoing investment in new and existing infrastructure is demonstrated by our Capital Program of $14.1m which includes $7.0m in new works. Council’s ongoing commitment to financial sustainability delivers this significant investment through the planned return of an operating surplus under-pinned by a modest increase in rates.

The Annual Business Plan demonstrates our intent to continue to deliver quality services, maintain financial accountability, sustainability and work with our communities.

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

• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2020-21 Footpath Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2020-21 Plant and Fleet Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2020-21 Roads Program
• Let's Talk Fact Sheet 2020-21 Buildings Program

Where does the income come from?

How is the money spent?

We have budgeted to spend $45.8 million in 2020-21. This includes $31.1 million on Services and Key Projects, $14.7 million on new assets and significant upgrades through Capital Projects.

Capital Projects (Net Expenditure)