Special Rate Variation Community Engagement Report - Shoalhaven City Council

5 Community Engagement– Fit for the Future/Merger
Proposal
As part of the development of Council’s Delivery Plan and Operational Plan undertook
a community engagement process to explain the Fit for the Future requirements and
the proposal to include a rates increase in order to meet these benchmarks (details of
the Delivery Plan and Operational Plan engagement has been provided in question 6
of the SRV application) . Council also undertook a further engagement process in
December 2015 when the State Government advised Council of its intention to merger
Shoalhaven City with Kiama Council.
A range of facts and considerations were provided to the community at this time,
drawing on information that had been provided through the Fit for the Future
application process to explain the potential impact of the merger on Council’s financial
sustainability. A variety of engagement methods were used to ensure that the
community were informed during these processes and advised the community of the
opportunity to provide submissions to the boundary commission. The engagement
methods utilised during this time are provided below. A summary of the community
feedback provided is also detailed below, however the majority of submissions
received from this process were provided directly to the boundaries commission and
therefore are not contained within this report.
5.1 Engagement Methods
5.1.1 Discussion Paper
In December 2015, following the announcement of the merger proposal Council
released a discussion paper for the community to use to understand the proposal
and the case for and against any merger. This discussion paper contained details
about the Fit for the future measures, Councils need of financial sustainability
On the first page of the discussion paper it was clearly outlined that:
“Shoalhaven City Council was assessed by IPART as “Fit” for the future both in scale and capacity
AND financial sustainability BUT this was on the basis that council would raise its general rates by an
extra 7 ½ % (above the ratepegging limit) in both the years 2017/18 and 2018/19 and other cost
saving initiatives were also implemented. Kiama Council had also planned above ratepegging rate
increases in future years.” ( http://doc.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/displayDoc.aspx?record=D16/6795 )
5.1.2 Council Website
Information about the components of this engagement process were provided on
Council’s website. The website was predominately used as an information hub and
contained content about:
The Fit for the Future benchmarks
Councils need to operate within financial constraints
The need for an increase in rates
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