Central Darling Shire Council will have an operating deficit of $1.225M for 2024/2025 and is facing an extremely strained and desperate financial outlook.

It comes as Council prepares for a number of essential, but unaffordable expenses.

General Manager, Greg Hill said this was happening at a time when an application for $1.3 million in Natural Disaster Declaration assistance for storm damage had been declined.

Mr Hill said Council also missed out on grant applications while important road works are required, along with other everyday costs in running the Shire.

“All this while Council is also preparing to come out of administration and for the return of elected members in September at an expected cost of $406,200 for the financial year,” he said.

“Council is expecting a budget deficit because of the potential return of elected members and a reduction of private works forecasted next year.”

Central Darling Shire is a disadvantaged local government area and includes the township of Ivanhoe.

The Shire covers a geographical area about the size of Tasmania and is home to a small population of only 1,700 residents, many who have small and low household incomes.

Mr Hill said the next step was to seek support from the National Emergency Management agency.

“Council is at the crossroads,” he warns.

“All the work being done under administration since 2013 needs to continue and for this to happen an urgent funding model is required including access to state government discretionary funds for important and necessary works.”

This article appeared in  The Riverine Grazier, 29 May 2024.