Report Shines Light On Council Cost Savings And Efficiency Gains
Gunnedah Shire Council has delivered its first Cost Containment and Productivity Report to Councillors detailing historical and potential cost savings and efficiency gains.
To assist in maintaining Council’s financial sustainability in tandem with the Special Rate Variation process, Councillors resolved Council would strive to find $930,000 through efficiency gains and operational savings over the three-year period from 2025 to 2028.
Gunnedah Shire Council Director Corporate Services, Kelly Stidworthy, said “Council has been aware of financial challenges caused by cost shifting, rate-pegging and cost increases for many years, and has already made significant efforts to improve operations and deliver services to the community without increasing rates above the rate peg.
“The report shows that more than $2.5 million in savings and $2.4 million in efficiencies have been made over those years, delaying the need to apply for a Special Rate Variation until now.
“Council will continue to investigate and make cost saving and efficiency gain improvements to meet the $930,000 requirement, but also expects further unforeseen costs and cost shifting in the years ahead. To show the full picture, the report also includes information on cost-shifting by other levels of government. In 2023/24, Council has estimated this to be $2.2 million.”
The report notes that Council is using the following approaches to find the $930,000 in savings and efficiencies:
The report notes that to date, Council has already implemented improvements that have resulted in:
Since the 2024 election, Council has realised $996,280 in efficiency gains and $117,125 in savings and has also sought funding under the Federal Government’s Community Energy Upgrade Fund to install solar and energy efficiency systems at various Council facilities that would realise ongoing electricity savings if successful.
The report also details many other efficiency and cost saving initiatives implemented across Council.
Council will continue to publicly report on efficiency gains and operational savings in May each year.
To read the Cost Containment and Productivity Report March 2025, visit www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au where the report is included on the March Ordinary Meeting agenda.
Council’s Special Rate Variation application is currently before the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal NSW (IPART).
https://gunnedah.nsw.gov.au/index.php/council/keep-in-touch/latest-news-media/item/2819-report-shines-a-light-on-council-cost-savings-and-efficiency-gains