The document provides information to the community about Cessnock City Council’s long-term planning and vision, the ongoing activities to implement its delivery program and incorporates the 2016/17 draft budget, a schedule of fees and charges and a capital works program worth over $13 million.

Funding construction and maintenance of roads, timber bridges, footpaths and cycle ways is included in the draft budget.

Efforts will also continue to actively seek external funding for improvements to infrastructure and other council activities outside the draft budget program.

Community, cultural, environmental and recreational services and facilities are also provided for, including public libraries, swimming pools, Kurri Kurri Aquatic Centre, parks, gardens, sporting facilities, community halls, Cessnock Community Performing Arts Centre and support of the youth centre and outreach service.

Council’s corporate and community services director Robert Maginnity said the draft budget had been developed with an emphasis on cost containment whilst maintaining existing levels of service.

“Demands for additional works, services and capital projects continue to accelerate and, coupled with increasing costs, the ability to maintain existing services levels and potential funding of new projects is impacted,” Mr Maginnity said.

"Unfortunately, although we recognise that there is much we and our residents would like to see happen in our local government area, for example the upgrading and replacing of ageing infrastructure.

“Council has limited resources which must be stretched across a very wide range of delivery programs."

Council staff have developed an innovative financial sustainability initiative, comprising a number of projects which, in the long-term, aim to generate sufficient funds to provide the levels of service and infrastructure agreed with the community. 

“As an organisation we are building a culture of continuous improvement, in order to position ourselves as best we can for the challenges that lie ahead,” Mr Maginnity said.

Councillors voted at the April 20 meeting to call for public comment on the draft plan and associated budget.

The draft plan will be on public exhibition until May 25 at www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/community/exhibition; at council’s administration building and Cessnock and Kurri libraries.

Written submissions should be addressed to the General Manager at PO Box 152, Cessnock 2325 or emailed to council@cessnock.nsw.gov.au.