The Snowy Monaro Regional Council (SMRC) is set to hold an extraordinary meeting on May 1, 2025, to deliberate on its draft suite of Integrated Planning and Reporting documents for the forthcoming 2025–2026 fiscal year. These documents, integral to the state-legislated framework for local governance, encompass the revised 2042 Community Strategic Plan (CSP), the 2025–2029 Delivery Program, the 2025–2026 Operational Plan, and the 2025–2026 Budget.
PHOTO: The revisions will be considered at the May 1 Extraordinary meeting CREDIT: SMRC
Public engagement in early 2024, has been pivotal in shaping the proposed amendments to the CSP. SMRC said in their Business Paper, “In total, 699 community members participated in feedback activities,” expressing significant concerns over local governance, including rate rises, financial sustainability, and the competence of leadership.
The submissions also lead to the prioritisation of 12 key issues council should be lobbying other levels of government for, such as housing affordability, infrastructure quality, service access, road improvements, health services, and housing availability.
PHOTO: Community submissions highlighted the regions’ road network condition as ‘poor’ – Kosciuszko Road Berridale, April 2025
42 community submissions were received after the CSP then went on public exhibition for 28 days between February 24, 2025, to March 24, 2025 highlighting several areas for revision. Notably, there was a call to shift the CSP timeframe to “a more actionable 10-year” duration, culminating in 2032, as opposed to the previously long-range 2042 vision, SMRC said in the Business Paper. The plan will also see modifications to include Aboriginal heritage within its visionary statement, emphasising inclusivity and cultural preservation as essential community values.
SMRC advised further revisions considered include the removal of references to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, responding to feedback that they did not resonate with the community’s concerns. There was also a concerted push to expand Council’s role in providing essential services such as aged care and health facilities, reflecting a community directive for greater local authority involvement.
PHOTO: Community submissions highlighted not only the lack of aged care in the wider region but the complete non-existence in some parts CREDIT: SMRC
In addition to these structural changes, the Council received several targeted amendments, such as incorporating local groups and organisations like the CSIRO, Landcare, and the Ngarigo community as strategic partners in various objectives. The proposed amendments also aim to correct and clarify certain content, including infographic simplifications and precise metrics regarding road lengths.
In response to these submissions, the Council is expected to formally adopt the CSP with these revisions at the upcoming meeting, aiming to notify those who contributed to the consultation process of their decisions. This meeting encapsulates a commitment to an inclusive approach by integrating community insights into strategic planning, ensuring that regional developmental aspirations align closely with public sentiment and needs.