An average 5 per cent rate rise for the 2025-26 financial year was cemented at Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s June 24 meeting following a unanimous vote.
As a result of community consultation, the council endorsed three major changes to its draft budget. It decided not to spend $361,550 on the Leicester St playground.
That project has been deferred for consideration in the 2026-27 financial year.
Council also endorsed $45,000 for fencing of the new courts project at the Border Districts Netball Club in Frances.
It further endorsed $45,160 to support driveway alterations at Yakka Park, home of the South East Field Days.
Another budget adjustment included an increase in the Limestone Coast Landscape Board levies on everyone’s property. Primary producers will be charged a $420.73 levy. Residential, vacant and other blocks will be charged $95.62; commercial blocks – $143.43, and industrial property owners – $229.49.
The council collects the levy on behalf of the landscape board. But it does not determine levy amounts people must pay, retain the revenue, or influence how the funds are spent.
The council’s total operational expenditure is $22.98m which has increased $1.81m from 2024-2025.
Its operating income includes $14.9m from rates, service charges and levies – $12.726m from general rates, and $2.248m from service charges and levies.
The district’s farmers will fund around 60 per cent of the general rate revenue. Urban home owners will contribute 26 per cent, commercial property owners – 8 per cent, and those with rural living blocks, 6.3 per cent.
Other income includes $4.3m from grants, subsidies, and contributions; $2.5m from user charges and commercial income; $359,000 from investments; $263,000 – statutory charges; $154,000 – reimbursements and $106,000 from “other income”.
Council’s main budget expenditure is $7.028m for footpaths, bridges, culverts, kerbing, road reconstructions, a main street upgrade, and resealing of Aitchison Ave, Langkoop and Lochaber Rds.
Some of the major road reconstruction projects include Moyhall Rd, $1.48m and Diagonal Rd, $1.48m. Just design works for Grubbed Rd is listed as $139,248.
The $7.028m expenditure also comprises re-sheeting works along parts of nine gravel roads including two sections of Hodges Ln, various portions of East Settlement Rd as well as segments including Gunning, Schinckels, Laurie Park and Ellisons Rds.
Other items of expenditure previously reported by [The Naracoorte News] include:
- $1,212,420 – upgrades and improvements at the self-funded Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange
- $750,000 – Lucindale main street upgrade
- $476,374 -Naracoorte Swimming Lake upgrades including improvements to the café with a new undercover outdoor dining area, disability access ramps, shade structures and amenities.
- $280,852 continuing upgrades at the Naracoorte Cemetery.
- $268,580 continuing the Naracoorte Creek and Creekwalk Master Plan, including installation of weirs.
- $216,930 Naracoorte Aerodrome bitumen runway.
- $130,413 – Naracoorte Pioneer Park improvements, including a new gazebo, paving, BBQ, street furniture, and pathways.
- $97,848 – trails at Lucindale’s Loechel Park.
Cr Tom Dennis, seconded by Cr Darren Turner, moved the motion, endorsing the 2025-26 business plan and budget. All councillors voted in favour, with only Cr Abigail Goodman absent. Cr Dennis said he wanted to commend the efforts “of everyone in this room to deliver this outcome”
“I was deeply disappointed with the commentary in the local Naracoorte News which continues to sensationalise this budget,” Cr Dennis said.
“I think everyone in this community needs to be aware of everything that’s happened in Robe and Kingston … with their jetties washing away and their beaches washing away and the challenges that councils face is that if we are not financially responsible and deliver financially responsible budgets and run a financially responsible balance sheet, we open ourselves up that when something does occur out of the blue, we are not in a position to be able to deal with it adequately.
“So, I would just like to commend everyone in the room and commend the budget.”
Mr Ross: “Thank you Cr Dennis for those kind words and I agree entirely.”
Regarding the worst drought on record for the farming community, which underpins Naracoorte’s economy, Mr Ross said anyone having trouble paying their rates due to hardship or drought should contact the council administration for help.
“At a council level, anyone who comes into the council office who’s either struggling with their rates or is going to struggle with their rates, we will sit down and talk with them.
“It will be in confidence and in a private room – it’s a small thing we can do.
“We will put them on a plan – so they know that the $5,000 they’ll be paying in rates, they can put into half a truckload of hay, or it’s enough so they can still buy their groceries.
“We will do whatever it takes. All in the administration in the Naracoorte Lucindale Council office are there to help do whatever they can. We will not be sending the bailiffs in.”
Mr Ross said if anyone seeking help went on a plan “there will be no bailiffs, and no asking questions. If you stick to the plan for however long it is deemed necessary, be it $10 a month or whatever, the council is there to help.”
He further urged those concerned about any higher-than-expected land values on their rates notices to contact the Valuer General’s department for a reassessment.
“The council does not set property valuations, the Valuer General does,” Mr Ross said.
“Of course, you do need to let the council know if you are getting your property reassessed.”
This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 2 July 2025.
