Annual Business Plan 2025-26 FAQ's
Where can I see the draft Annual Business Plan: A hard copy can be found in the Council Office. Online version www.peterborough.sa.gov.au/our-council/documents.
When is the consultation period: The consultation period for the Annual Business Plan & Budget opens on Tuesday 15 July closing on Wednesday 6th August at 5pm.
Where can I ask questions about the Annual Business Plan: Questions can be asked by contacting the Council or at the Special Meeting of Council on Tuesday 5th August at 6:30pm. The first part of the meeting will be dedicated to questions about the Annual Business Plan.
How do I submit my feedback:
- Email: council@peterborough.sa.gov.au
- Mail: EO, PO Box 121, Peterborough SA 5422
- Verbal: Special Council Meeting on Tuesday 5th August, 6:30pm at the Council Office.
* Casual hours removed (ST and VIC)
* Rural Transaction Centre and Arts group moved to Steamtown
* No new capital and limited capital renewal
* Buildings review
* Staff replaced on a case by case basis
Examples of the challenge;
* Depot Ute broke down – not replaced
* Graders at 12,000 & 18,000 hours – not replaced
* IT system not compliant / not windows 365
* FTEs reduced from 33 to 24 already over last 10 yrs
* Out of date plans mean loans unlikely
* Future service provision is in doubt ie graders
How much of a loss does Steamtown make? Why don’t volunteers run it?
A: Steamtown in the past has made losses annually of about $350,000. For 24/25 it is expected to be a loss of about $130,000.
We will review our operating model to consider;
* Volunteers running it
* Becoming its own incorporated body
CWMS is listed in the ABP under “Traditional” instead of “Mandatory”. By definition this is a council function so should it be classed as mandatory?
Councils especially smaller regional councils traditionally provide a CWMS. However, it is not mandatory. For instance in larger regional centers SA Water provides this same service.
If the CWMS fails what is councils backup plan?
Councils plan is for the CMWS not to fail. Asset Management Plans are required to be renewed. The asset is due to be revalued. Further training for staff has been identified for 2025/26. The CWMS currently has some issues that Council is working through. Recent progress has been positive but no update is available at this time. An update will be shared at the appropriate time.
Will council maintain an active Facebook page?
Yes. However instead of being a two way format it would instead be useful information and updates.
Questions that people want answered will still need to be directed to council via questions on notice or to the CEO. This will be reviewed in future, however current staffing levels cannot oversee a two way page.
Would Council consider a more informative version of the “Informer” similar to Orroroos?
Only if managed by volunteers. Producing the Informer does use up council resources in terms of time and money. This is not considered a core function of council and there are higher priorities that are more pressing.
Will a 10% rate rise result in more services?
No. A 10% rate rise results in a financial deficit of $524,000 for the same level
of services. The deficit should be managed to a balanced position within 3 years meaning continued rate rises and / or service level reviews over the next few years. Future decisions needed about rate rises and service levels.
Will council working transparency improve? Yes.
Operating Deficit
The forecast operating deficit of $524,000 is significant.
*Has every effort been made to cut unnecessary or non-core spending?
*Why is Council still maintaining service levels and programs that are not essential?$524,000 Operating Deficit
There has already been a lot of change;
* New financial strategy
* New members of Audit and Risk Committee
* Steamtown and VIC reduced hours
* No new capital spend
* Updated plans need to occur for us to survive
* Shared services will be investigated
* Service levels need to be reviewed
* Staff vacancies filled on a case by case basis
The Asset Renewal Funding Ratio is only 75%, below the healthy range of 90–110%. This indicates underinvestment in past years. A sudden rate increase to"catch up" is not sustainable and raises questions about historical planning.
The 75% indicates underinvestment in the coming year, which is lower than ideal. This is due to out of date plans and restricted access to cash.
With more than $1.3 million in cash reserves, could a portion of this be responsibly used to buffer the shortfall in the short term—while structural cost savings are identified?
While council appears to have $1.3m in cash reserves, this is not the case. Council had $1.3m in the bank as of 30 June 2025, however $906,000 of this was grants received in advance ie for 2025/26. Council had over $300,000 in outstanding creditors owing. There is no cash reserve.
The Budget shows zero forecast for asset sales or disposal. Are there any surplus properties or underused facilities that could be sold or leased to generate income?
Reviewing this will be a medium to long term activity. Our light and heavy fleet is rundown and we will struggle to replace items as they
fall due in future. However, any surplus assets (land/buildings) will be investigated for potential sale.
How did the $524,000 deficit occur?
The previous strategy appears to have been to keep the rates as low as possible, save costs by not renewing assets and have minimal cash in the bank. If this was the strategy then we have followed it. As we do not appear to have been renewing our assets and we have zero cash at bank. This type of strategy may keep rates low but is not sustainable. The new strategy is based on Council being a going financial concern. This means:
- Matching services with what we can afford based on our income (rates).
- Having adequate cash in the bank and using plans (such as AMP’s) to guide our decision making such as what equipment needs replacing and when.
- Having a Long Term Financial Plan that demonstrates consistent predictable operations for everyone's benefit
Does Council have a documented plant replacement programme, is there any plant currently needing replacement?
Council does not have a plant replacement programme. This is something we will need to develop. There is a number of plant that requires replacement.