Shoalhaven City Council is slashing its budget to make ends meet, after 15 natural disasters in five years ate into its cash reserves.Advertisement
Workers assess the damage to The Wool Road at Old Erowal Bay from the pothole that opened up this month. “For me to go to work now, it’s half an hour as opposed to five minutes,” she said. “The local shopping centre and the doctor surgeries are also on the other side , as well as our local schools ... it’s really frustrating.”
State and federal government grants have funded most of the road repairs from those disasters but council chief executive Robyn Stevens said the council has also had to draw on its own cash reserves to help residents and repair assets.
Despite these efforts, the council still expects to end the next financial year with an operating deficit of $21 million. Stevens said the rising cost of materials, increasing loan costs and state government shifting expenses onto councils had played a role in worsening the council’s financial position.Darriea Turley, the president Local Government NSW – which is not a government department or agency but rather an advocacy group for member councils – said a growing number of councils were becoming financially unsustainable.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: 7NewsMelbourne - 🏆 18. / 59 Read more »
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »
Source: FOXSportsAUS - 🏆 24. / 51 Read more »
Source: FOXSportsAUS - 🏆 24. / 51 Read more »