Council's Draft Plans and Budget

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Consultation has concluded

Have your say on Council's future plans, projects, budgets, fees and charges, and revenue policy

Background

Council has developed a suite of Integrated Planning and Reporting documents that will guide the way services are delivered over the next four years.

The Delivery Plan outlines the services and projects Council will provide, the stakeholders we will collaborate with and the advocacy we will undertake to other levels of government on behalf of our community. Council’s Delivery Plan is our response to the aspirations and objectives included in the Community Strategic Plan 2042.

The Resourcing Strategy shows how the Delivery Plan will be funded and supported, which includes the Long Term Financial Plan (a 10-year financial outlook), and the Strategic Asset Management Plan (how assets like roads and buildings will be managed).

Our Revenue Policy and annual Fees and Charges outline how we will collect funds to deliver the projects and services we have planned. These include an explanation of the rating structure and other revenue principles, and proposed fees for Council services and facilities.

All these documents are developed as part of Council’s obligations under the Local Government Act 1993 and the Integrated Planning and Reporting framework.

This is an opportunity to review the proposals and share feedback. It’s your chance to be involved in creating a future we can all be proud of. We encourage everyone to take a few minutes to have a look and let us know what you think.

We will be holding a range of community meetings in May to share details on key projects and priorities and hear your feedback on what we have planned.

Copies of each document are available under the Documents on exhibition section of this page, and hard copies are available for review at our customer service centre in Bega and our libraries across the shire.

We welcome your feedback and if you have any questions, please reach out through one of the channels listed below.

We also have some handy FAQ’s


How to provide your feedback

There are many ways you can provide feedback and comments on the draft planning documents, as well as find out what we will be working on in your community.


Join us at an information session

We will be holding information sessions in Bega, Merimbula, Eden and Bermagui to discuss these plans and hear your feedback.

  • Bega: Wednesday 13 May - 5pm to 6pm
    Bega Commemorative Civic Centre, Zingel Place
  • Merimbula: Thursday 14 May - 4pm to 5pm
    Merimbula RSL
  • Eden: Monday 18 May - 5pm to 6pm
    Eden Log Cabin
  • Bermagui: Monday 25 May - 5pm to 6pm
    Bermagui Surf Club


Watch our online webinar

We held a webinar on Tuesday 19 May, from 5pm to 6pm. A recording is now available to watch below.



Write to us

Submissions on any of the draft documents can be made to the Chief Executive Officer via:

If you have any questions please contact Peter Wild on (02) 6499 2425 or pwild@begavalley.nsw.gov.au

All submissions received during the exhibition period will be considered by Council before the documents are finalised. Your submission will be made public in a report to Council.


Submissions must be received by close of business on Friday 5 June 2026.





Have your say on Council's future plans, projects, budgets, fees and charges, and revenue policy

Background

Council has developed a suite of Integrated Planning and Reporting documents that will guide the way services are delivered over the next four years.

The Delivery Plan outlines the services and projects Council will provide, the stakeholders we will collaborate with and the advocacy we will undertake to other levels of government on behalf of our community. Council’s Delivery Plan is our response to the aspirations and objectives included in the Community Strategic Plan 2042.

The Resourcing Strategy shows how the Delivery Plan will be funded and supported, which includes the Long Term Financial Plan (a 10-year financial outlook), and the Strategic Asset Management Plan (how assets like roads and buildings will be managed).

Our Revenue Policy and annual Fees and Charges outline how we will collect funds to deliver the projects and services we have planned. These include an explanation of the rating structure and other revenue principles, and proposed fees for Council services and facilities.

All these documents are developed as part of Council’s obligations under the Local Government Act 1993 and the Integrated Planning and Reporting framework.

This is an opportunity to review the proposals and share feedback. It’s your chance to be involved in creating a future we can all be proud of. We encourage everyone to take a few minutes to have a look and let us know what you think.

We will be holding a range of community meetings in May to share details on key projects and priorities and hear your feedback on what we have planned.

Copies of each document are available under the Documents on exhibition section of this page, and hard copies are available for review at our customer service centre in Bega and our libraries across the shire.

We welcome your feedback and if you have any questions, please reach out through one of the channels listed below.

We also have some handy FAQ’s


How to provide your feedback

There are many ways you can provide feedback and comments on the draft planning documents, as well as find out what we will be working on in your community.


Join us at an information session

We will be holding information sessions in Bega, Merimbula, Eden and Bermagui to discuss these plans and hear your feedback.

  • Bega: Wednesday 13 May - 5pm to 6pm
    Bega Commemorative Civic Centre, Zingel Place
  • Merimbula: Thursday 14 May - 4pm to 5pm
    Merimbula RSL
  • Eden: Monday 18 May - 5pm to 6pm
    Eden Log Cabin
  • Bermagui: Monday 25 May - 5pm to 6pm
    Bermagui Surf Club


Watch our online webinar

We held a webinar on Tuesday 19 May, from 5pm to 6pm. A recording is now available to watch below.



Write to us

Submissions on any of the draft documents can be made to the Chief Executive Officer via:

If you have any questions please contact Peter Wild on (02) 6499 2425 or pwild@begavalley.nsw.gov.au

All submissions received during the exhibition period will be considered by Council before the documents are finalised. Your submission will be made public in a report to Council.


Submissions must be received by close of business on Friday 5 June 2026.





Consultation has concluded

Have a question about the plans? Leave a comment below and one of our team will respond. To do this you need to add your email address and give yourself a screen name.

Please note that all online comments are reviewed and moderated before being published on the website. This helps ensure comments are respectful, relevant and appropriate for a public forum. Moderation may result in a delay before your comment appears online.

  • Share What was the funding mechanism/source for the new water & sewage 'administration' building in Boundary road Bega? How much did this administration building cost? How many staff does BVSC expect this building to support, given it has parking space for over 60 vehicles and you have announced multiple staff EV charging points? If the building was funded from the roughly $18-$19m allocated to the Shire water & sewage upgrade project, what percentage of that total funding budget went to build this new office space? Was this additional office space included in Councils RFT-10043351? Why are details of the above tender confidential in nature? Why has Council not notified Ratepayers about this significant infrustructure build, instead, seemingly, obfuscating it's build & hiding it in community "sewage and water" upgrades. Council currently has a workforce of around 350 FTE staff. What are Councils projected staffing levels in the next few years, and what was the justification for 1300sqm of additional office space? Thankyou for your attention in this matter. Richard Everett Pambula on Facebook Share What was the funding mechanism/source for the new water & sewage 'administration' building in Boundary road Bega? How much did this administration building cost? How many staff does BVSC expect this building to support, given it has parking space for over 60 vehicles and you have announced multiple staff EV charging points? If the building was funded from the roughly $18-$19m allocated to the Shire water & sewage upgrade project, what percentage of that total funding budget went to build this new office space? Was this additional office space included in Councils RFT-10043351? Why are details of the above tender confidential in nature? Why has Council not notified Ratepayers about this significant infrustructure build, instead, seemingly, obfuscating it's build & hiding it in community "sewage and water" upgrades. Council currently has a workforce of around 350 FTE staff. What are Councils projected staffing levels in the next few years, and what was the justification for 1300sqm of additional office space? Thankyou for your attention in this matter. Richard Everett Pambula on X (formerly Twitter) Share What was the funding mechanism/source for the new water & sewage 'administration' building in Boundary road Bega? How much did this administration building cost? How many staff does BVSC expect this building to support, given it has parking space for over 60 vehicles and you have announced multiple staff EV charging points? If the building was funded from the roughly $18-$19m allocated to the Shire water & sewage upgrade project, what percentage of that total funding budget went to build this new office space? Was this additional office space included in Councils RFT-10043351? Why are details of the above tender confidential in nature? Why has Council not notified Ratepayers about this significant infrustructure build, instead, seemingly, obfuscating it's build & hiding it in community "sewage and water" upgrades. Council currently has a workforce of around 350 FTE staff. What are Councils projected staffing levels in the next few years, and what was the justification for 1300sqm of additional office space? Thankyou for your attention in this matter. Richard Everett Pambula on Linkedin Email What was the funding mechanism/source for the new water & sewage 'administration' building in Boundary road Bega? How much did this administration building cost? How many staff does BVSC expect this building to support, given it has parking space for over 60 vehicles and you have announced multiple staff EV charging points? If the building was funded from the roughly $18-$19m allocated to the Shire water & sewage upgrade project, what percentage of that total funding budget went to build this new office space? Was this additional office space included in Councils RFT-10043351? Why are details of the above tender confidential in nature? Why has Council not notified Ratepayers about this significant infrustructure build, instead, seemingly, obfuscating it's build & hiding it in community "sewage and water" upgrades. Council currently has a workforce of around 350 FTE staff. What are Councils projected staffing levels in the next few years, and what was the justification for 1300sqm of additional office space? Thankyou for your attention in this matter. Richard Everett Pambula link

    What was the funding mechanism/source for the new water & sewage 'administration' building in Boundary road Bega? How much did this administration building cost? How many staff does BVSC expect this building to support, given it has parking space for over 60 vehicles and you have announced multiple staff EV charging points? If the building was funded from the roughly $18-$19m allocated to the Shire water & sewage upgrade project, what percentage of that total funding budget went to build this new office space? Was this additional office space included in Councils RFT-10043351? Why are details of the above tender confidential in nature? Why has Council not notified Ratepayers about this significant infrustructure build, instead, seemingly, obfuscating it's build & hiding it in community "sewage and water" upgrades. Council currently has a workforce of around 350 FTE staff. What are Councils projected staffing levels in the next few years, and what was the justification for 1300sqm of additional office space? Thankyou for your attention in this matter. Richard Everett Pambula

    Richard asked 4 months ago

    Hi Richard,

    The Water and Sewer Services administration/depot building received State Government grant funding of approximately $2.6 million. The total project cost was $5,384,559 with the remaining delivery costs split across the Water and Sewer funds. It was delivered as part of a planned capital works program with appropriate approvals.

    Importantly, water and sewer capital works are not funded from general rates. The building forms part of Council’s broader water and sewer operational and administrative footprint, supporting delivery of water and wastewater services across the shire. It was delivered as part of a broader investment program in water infrastructure, including major State-funded treatment plant upgrades.

    The internal fit out of the administration part of the building is open-plan with flexible office space that can accommodate an evolving workforce. There are currently 50 staff working from the building, including operational field staff. This space ensures our administrative and asset management staff are working closely with our operational staff.

    Council’s current workforce is around 440 staff (Source: Draft Delivery Plan 2026-2030 Council's Draft Plans and Budget | Your Say. Our Projects. ) Staffing levels can fluctuate depending on the use of contract and casual resources to deliver projects and provide services.

    Thanks for the questions. We will include this as a submission and it will be reported to the 22 June 2026 Council meeting.

    Thanks

    Kaliegh

  • Share While you indicate that rates are proposed to only rise by the rate cap amount of 3.5%, the base rate component, of Council's full charges, is now a minor component of the full rates & charges. In percentage terms, what will water, sewage and domestic waste charges rise by? Thank you. on Facebook Share While you indicate that rates are proposed to only rise by the rate cap amount of 3.5%, the base rate component, of Council's full charges, is now a minor component of the full rates & charges. In percentage terms, what will water, sewage and domestic waste charges rise by? Thank you. on X (formerly Twitter) Share While you indicate that rates are proposed to only rise by the rate cap amount of 3.5%, the base rate component, of Council's full charges, is now a minor component of the full rates & charges. In percentage terms, what will water, sewage and domestic waste charges rise by? Thank you. on Linkedin Email While you indicate that rates are proposed to only rise by the rate cap amount of 3.5%, the base rate component, of Council's full charges, is now a minor component of the full rates & charges. In percentage terms, what will water, sewage and domestic waste charges rise by? Thank you. link

    While you indicate that rates are proposed to only rise by the rate cap amount of 3.5%, the base rate component, of Council's full charges, is now a minor component of the full rates & charges. In percentage terms, what will water, sewage and domestic waste charges rise by? Thank you.

    Richard asked 4 months ago

    Hi Richard

    Thanks for your question. Water and sewer charges will increase by 3.5%. Waste charges will increase by 4.7%. You can find this information in the report to Council from 6 May under the Revenue Policy section. https://begavalley.infocouncil.biz/Open/2026/05/OC_06052026_AGN_1209_AT.htm#PDF2_ReportName_10794

    The rate cap of 3.5% is applied to the total amount of rates that Council can collect, not individual properties. The rate increase your property receives next financial year will be dependent upon your land value. The base rate for all rating categories for the 2026-27 financial year is $878 and depending on your property value and the ad-valorem rate applied, this will determine the total rates payable for your property. Overall the base rate component is at 41% of total rates income for next financial year. The maximum allowable is 50% base income in a rate category.

    Thanks

    Kaliegh

    revenue policy
    revenue policy
  • Share What is the estimated cost of the proposed kerb, drainage and sealing of Imlay street in Merimbula please? Is this cost included in the 2026-2027 budget as works to be completed in that FY? I couldn’t see a dollar value on these works for Imlay Street in the budget allocations over the next few years. on Facebook Share What is the estimated cost of the proposed kerb, drainage and sealing of Imlay street in Merimbula please? Is this cost included in the 2026-2027 budget as works to be completed in that FY? I couldn’t see a dollar value on these works for Imlay Street in the budget allocations over the next few years. on X (formerly Twitter) Share What is the estimated cost of the proposed kerb, drainage and sealing of Imlay street in Merimbula please? Is this cost included in the 2026-2027 budget as works to be completed in that FY? I couldn’t see a dollar value on these works for Imlay Street in the budget allocations over the next few years. on Linkedin Email What is the estimated cost of the proposed kerb, drainage and sealing of Imlay street in Merimbula please? Is this cost included in the 2026-2027 budget as works to be completed in that FY? I couldn’t see a dollar value on these works for Imlay Street in the budget allocations over the next few years. link

    What is the estimated cost of the proposed kerb, drainage and sealing of Imlay street in Merimbula please? Is this cost included in the 2026-2027 budget as works to be completed in that FY? I couldn’t see a dollar value on these works for Imlay Street in the budget allocations over the next few years.

    Roz Hansen asked 4 months ago

    Hi Ros. 

    The estimated cost for the proposed kerb, drainage and sealing of Imlay Street in Merimbula is $786,000. The design is currently being worked on and the team are planning to complete construction in the 2026-27 financial year. 

    Thanks Kaliegh

     

    capital works
    capital works
  • Share How much will rates be going up by this year? on Facebook Share How much will rates be going up by this year? on X (formerly Twitter) Share How much will rates be going up by this year? on Linkedin Email How much will rates be going up by this year? link

    How much will rates be going up by this year?

    Elma asked 4 months ago

    Hi Elma. Thanks for your question. The rate increase for 2026/27 is 3.5%. It is determined by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal. This increase applies to the total amount of rates Council can collect across all properties in the shire. Your individual rates could be higher or lower than a 3.5% increase as it will be dependent on your properties land value. Water and sewer access and usage charges will also increase by 3.5% and our Waste charges will increase by 4.7%. You can find more detail on how we collect Revenue in our Draft Revenue Policy 2026-27.