Long list of achievements for Singleton community in 2020/2021

Published on 17 November 2021

A significant list of achievements over the past five years – including $48 million in grant funding, establishment of the Singleton Community and Economic Development Fund, the $2million COVID-19 Community Support Package and an impressive list of capital works projects including the $7million Singleton Regional Livestock Market upgrade, $3million Riverside Park, $4million major sewer pump station refurbishment and $1.6million Animal Management Facility are showcased in the Singleton Council End of Term Report that was formally endorsed on Monday 15 November 2021.

In their last meeting of the current term, Councillors also endorsed the Annual Report 2020/2021 (including the State of the Environment Report) that captured the highlights of the past year. The list includes:

  • Endorsement of the Singleton Sustainable Strategy
  • Adoption of the Local Strategic Planning Statement
  • Establishment of the Singleton Legacy Fund and Singleton Community and Economic Development Fund
  • $7million Singleton Town Centre Upgrade – Stage 2
  • Start of construction of the $4million Arts and Cultural Centre
  • $506,300 Broke Skate Park
  • $1.5million Kelso Street Road and Drainage upgrade
  • $400,000 Townhead Park bike track

Council finished the financial year in a strong position, as the General Purpose Financial Statements for the year ending 30 June 2021 showed a net operating result for the year of $15.394million, with a $2.614million underlying operating result for the year before grants and contributions provided for capital purposes.

Rates and annual charges revenue and the underlying net operating result before capital grants and contributions for 2020/2021 remained steady in comparison with the previous year, however grants and contributions revenue increased by $7million and the operating result from continuing operations was up by 20 per cent.

Within a total capital budget expenditure of $32.587million, Council also reported asset renewals of $16million in 2020/2021, up from $7.9million in 2019/2020. Significant renewals included:

  • Water supply asset renewals of $3.7million
  • Sewerage asset renewals of $3.6million
  • Road renewals of $2.4million

“These are very comprehensive reports that show significant achievements for our community over what has been a very turbulent period with drought, bushfires, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic,” General Manager Jason Linnane said. 

“As well as supporting our community through these challenging times, including the $2million Community Support Package to provide direct relief to our residents who were significantly financially impacted by COVID, Council also delivered tens of millions of dollars in new projects including sports and recreation, roads, bridges, water and sewer infrastructure to a standard our community expects and deserves.

“What’s more, we worked closely with our business community, community organisations and sporting clubs to provide the infrastructure to bring people together, as well as run events and programs that are vital to the social fabric and wellbeing of our residents.

“I’m incredibly proud of the progress Singleton has made in the past five years, and I encourage everyone to have a look at the End of the Term report and the Annual Report 2020/2021 as a tangible record of how we’re working together to create the community we’re proud of now and into the future.”

 

ENDS