Draft Annual Business Plan 25-26 | Long Term Financial Plan 25-35 | Strategic Asset Management Plan 25-35

Council is seeking your feedback on our essential documents that guide our operations, financial sustainability, and asset management over the next financial year and decade. These documents include annual business plan, long term financial plan, and strategic asset management plans.

Each document has a distinct purpose but they are closely interrelated to ensure coordinated, strategic planning and service deliver for the community. These documents are legislatively required under the Local Government Act 1999.

What you can influence

The community can make submission on all aspects of the draft Annual Business Plan 2025 - 2026 except any legislative factors. Some things to consider:

• Have we got the balance between delivery of services and projects for the community and the raising of rates to pay for them right?
• In reviewing the list of proposed projects and services within the plan, are there any items Council needs to consider to add, reduce or delete?
• What enhancements would you like to see within the plan?

How to have your say

You can provide your feedback by:

• uploading a submission using the online form below
• sending an email to yoursay@mountbarker.sa.gov.au
• mailing your submission to Mount Barker District Council, PO Box 54, Mount Barker SA 5251
• presenting in person, at the public meeting on Monday 16 June commencing at 6:00pm at the Mount Barker Council Chambers, 6 Dutton Road, Mount Barker. Please complete the online form to register to present.

For feedback to be considered it must be received by Council no later than 5pm, Wednesday 25 June 2025.

About the documents

1. Draft Annual Business Plan (ABP) 2025-2026
   The ABP outlines Council's priorities, services, projects, and budget for the financial year. It translates the long-term goals into short-term actions. It details how the budget will be allocated, what services will be provided, and how performance will be measured over the year.
   
   It operationalises the goals from the Long Term Financial Plan and the Strategic Asset Management Plans, ensuring that annual spending and project delivery align with long-term priorities and asset needs.
   
   Mount Barker is a developing council with a need to expand the budget to build future infrastructure, deliver services for a growing population, and increase standards so that the assets provided for the existing population are aligned with new developments such as the new footpath program.
   
   In 2023/2024, Council implemented a three-year smoothing approach to general rate increases until 2026. Council is proposing a 3.5% average rate increase for the coming year. Property owners may experience variation in that figure due to changing property values which are outside of the Council's control.
   
   Key priorities included in the draft ABP 2025-2026 are:
   • Summit Precinct
   • Summit Aquatic and Leisure Centre
   • City Centre Project - Town Square
   • Transport Projects: Springs Road Upgrade (Bald Hills Road to Heysen Boulevard); Bollen Road Trail Construction (Mount Barker Creek to Silverwood Drive)
     
     
2. Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) 2025-2035
   The LTFP provides a 10-year financial outlook, forecasting income, expenses, capital investments, and debt levels. It plays a vital role in delivering the objectives of the Community Plan 2044.
   
   It ensures financial sustainability by planning for future funding needs, economic conditions, and community expectations. It is updated each year in parallel with Council's annual budgeting and business planning processes.
   
   The LTFP informs the ABP by showing what is financially achievable, and it incorporates costs from the SAMPs, such as asset maintenance, renewal, and replacement.
   
   The LTFP shows confidence that we can keep up with current and future demands and have the capacity to deliver key projects and core service deliverables over the next 10 years.
   
   Our capacity to deliver the LTFP over the next 10 years is not just from ratepayer contributions, rather a combination of developer contributions, State and Federal commitments, and other partnerships.
   
   
3. Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP) 2025-2035

SAMPs outline how Council will manage its infrastructure and physical assets e.g. roads, buildings, parks, stormwater over their lifecycle. They set the direction and prioritisation of asset management practices, and at a high level summarises current and aspirational practices. It links organisational objectives to asset management objectives.
The SAMP presents the overall investment plan (design, construction, maintenance and operation) for infrastructure of Mount Barker District Council over the next 10 years.

These plans feed into the LTFP by providing long-term cost estimates and investment needs. The ABP reflects the annual activities and funding commitments for asset management.

The SAMP should be read in conjunction with the Community Plan 2044.

Council manages many aspects in order to deliver a wide range of services to the community. These assets are categorised into four classes:

1. Asset Management Plan – Buildings
2. Asset Management Plan – Transport
3. Asset Management Plan – Open Space
4. Asset Management Plan – Stormwater

The total replacement value of these assets (excluding plant and equipment, wastewater, land) is approximately $671 million in June 2024.

Managing assets responsibly to optimise their value and the services they offer is crucial for the Council. The SAMP is developed to evaluate the condition of the Council's assets and ascertain the required investment for operations, maintenance, renewal/replacement, upgrades, or downgrades as needed to meet desired service standards and demand.