FAQs
- Strategic Plan 2024 - Your Place Your Space
- Infrastructure Asset Management Plans
- Annual Business Plan.
- what we need to do this year to ensure we achieve the broader goals outlined in our Strategic Plan 2024 – Your Place Your Space, which were identified in close consultation with our community
- how our actions this year will support our Long-term Financial Plan, which ensures we operate fairly, responsibly and sustainably now and into the future
- the mix of projects, programs and services we need to deliver to meet community expectations and aspirations
- our known and anticipated costs, risks and opportunities.
What's an Annual Business Plan in a snapshot?
Every year, Council develops an Annual Business Plan and Budget which links our Strategic Plan – Your Place Your Space, the Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) and our Asset Management Plans with the annual budget planning process.
Our annual business plan details the programs, projects and services we will deliver to our community and how these will be funded.
Our focus in 2025-46 is on supporting and strengthening our community, environment and region through activities and programs geared towards essential services, prudent resource management, and sustainability.
The Annual Business Plan is our way to ensure that we continue to develop and maintain essential infrastructure services such as roads, footpaths, bridges, public toilets and open spaces as well as providing important services including libraries, health, planning, support services and waste collection.
What's a Long-Term Financial Plan in a snapshot?
A Long-Term Financial Plan (LTFP) is designed to provide an overview of the financial implications and projections over a 15-year period. By anticipating future financial needs and challenges, the LTFP serves as a roadmap for informed decision-making, helping to align Council's financial resources with its long-term goals and objectives, ensuring fiscal responsibility and resilience in the face of evolving economic conditions.
The LTFP integrates the financial implications of Council's plan's, including:
The Local Government Act 1999 requires Council to prepare a LTFP as part of its Strategic Management Plans.
Why do we have a business plan and budget?
Under Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1999 Councils must have, for each financial year, an Annual Business Plan and Budget. It must include a summary of Council’s long-term objectives as set out in its Strategic Management Plans. The Strategic Management Plans identify the Council’s objectives, how a Council intends to achieve its objectives, how they fit with the objectives of other levels of government, performance measures and estimates of revenue and expense.
Where can I see a hard copies of the Consultation Documents?
Copies are available at each of our libraries (Gumeracha, Stirling and Woodside).
You can request a hard copy to be sent to you by calling 8408 0400 or emailing engage@ahc.sa.gov.au
Download from this project page in the document library above.
What can you expect at the public Council meeting on Tuesday 10 June?
On Tuesday 10 June you will have the opportunity to attend the 6.30pm -7.30pm Council meeting being held at the Stirling Council Chamber, 63 Mount Barker Road, Stirling.
How did Council develop this year’s Draft Annual Business Plan?
To develop our Draft Annual Business Plan 2025-26 and set this year’s rates, Council carefully considered a range of factors, including:
Page 20 of the Draft Annual Business Plan 2025-26 provides further detail about the factors that have influenced this year’s budget.
What is the proposed rate increase?
Council are proposing an average increase in general residential rates of 6.2% which will allow for which will allow for continued financial sustainability, maintain our much-needed services and fund new initiatives.
For an average value residential property this equates to an annual increase of approximately $161.
Is council removing funding support for the Santos Tour Down Under?
As part of our cost savings initiatives, we have proposed to remove funding for the Santos Tour Down Under (TDU). This support, which is typically in the order of $80,000, has been removed from the current Draft Annual Business Plan as part of Council's operating budget savings measures.
If you would like to provide feedback on our removal of support for the TDU, you can do so using the Draft ABP and LTFP Feedback Form.
What is happening with the FOGO weekly bin collection rollout?
The rollout of weekly FOGO and fortnightly waste collection in townships is an important project for Council and the community. We our planning to expand our existing weekly FOGO collection trial during the 2025/26 financial year. The first step in the transition is to change all townships currently serviced on the Tuesday collection day to weekly FOGO and fortnightly waste.
This approach builds upon the success of over 400 properties within the Woodside township that remain on the modified waste collection service following the initial trial during 2024/25. Council will use outcomes from this transition to inform decision making regarding future stages.
Will public toilet facilities and playgrounds still be safe to access while upgrades are delayed?
We are continuing to maintain our existing public toilet and playground infrastructure to ensure they are safe for our community and to extend their useful asset lifespan until upgrades of these facilities can be progressed.
What will happen to my feedback?
All feedback received by 5pm on 11 June 2025 will be consolidated and presented to Council.
Council will consider the consolidated feedback before finalising the Annual Business Plan 2025-26 and Long-Term Financial Plan 2026-40.