Local Government Reform

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Following a review process the State Government has introduced a series of reforms for NSW Local Government called Fit for the Future. These reforms are intended to provide communities across the State with confidence that councils are financially sound, operating efficiently and in a strong position to guide community growth and deliver quality services.

All Councils in NSW must submit a proposal to the State Government addressing criteria in the areas of scale, capacity and financial health. 

Wingecarribee Council is developing strategies to strengthen our operations and improve efficiencies. The early signs are that our current financials are in good shape. However, we still have a great deal of work before us.

Please take a look at our Fit for the Future page on Council’s online community engagement hub Your Say Wingecarribee.

Service Delivery Review Program

In its 2015 Fit for the Future Improvement Proposal, Wingecarribee Shire Council committed to “undertake a comprehensive service review program to ensure that Council is delivering services in the most efficient and effective manner”.

Service Delivery Reviews will examine the delivery of existing services and assist with the development of options and/or strategies to enable Council to match resources in the most effective and appropriate way. A completed Service Delivery Review will provide Council with a tool to make informed strategic choices with respect to the delivery of Council services.

Service Delivery Review Updates

Children’s Services

In partnership with external funding bodies this service provides a suite of care-related and educational activities that support Shire families.

Scope of the review:

  • Assess Council’s suitability to deliver Children’s Services
  • Assess the impact of changes to funding model and impact of alternatives
  • Assess the capability for the service to meet the changes to market demand and competition
  • Assess the current and future availability of Family Day Care Educators
  • Develop detailed recommendations for future service delivery

Following the review Council considered the following report:

11 September 2019 meeting

27 November 2019 meeting

Children's Services Cover Note(PDF, 488KB) 

The Children’s Services Service Delivery Review Final Report(PDF, 1MB)

A further review on Children’s Services will be conducted in 2022 as per MN 546/19:

1. THAT Council continue in direct service delivery for both Family Day Care and WOOSH for a period of three years, with the following focus:

a. Implement the Children’s Services Business and Marketing Plan;

b. Utilise existing service budget reserve;

c. Develop and implement workforce plan for WOOSH; and

2. THAT a further service delivery review be conducted after two years, with the following scope:

a. Assess effectiveness of the Business and Marketing Plan;

b. Reassess issues and risks identified in the 2019 service delivery review;

c. Consider the financial model of the service; d. Consultation with key stakeholders and staff; and

3. THAT the General Manager make representations to the appropriate State and Federal funding agencies seeking additional funds to support Children’s Services.

Waste Management

The Waste Management Service Delivery Review is now complete. The service is responsible for waste collection, disposal, resource recovery, recycling, waste management and education that enhances the amenity of the Shire and maximises the environmental sustainability of the Shire.

Scope of the review:

  • Provide a full and holistic review of the services delivered to our customers with a view to matching these services against the community’s expectations and our organisation’s vision.
  • Determine how these services can be delivered at the right level, at what cost and in the best way possible to meet community expectations
  • Ensure value for money and operational efficiency
  • Assess opportunities for better service delivery with other entities.

A community survey was undertaken during the review. Results from the survey are available at yoursaywingecarribee.com.au/waste.

Review recommendations and improvement options will be considered in development of the Waste Strategy.

Waste Management Cover Note(PDF, 521KB) 

Service Delivery Review Waste Management Services(PDF, 2MB)

Community Wellbeing

This service provides support to a number of key target groups through the provision of advocacy, service liaison, co-ordination, community events and program delivery. This service aims to improve individual and broader community wellbeing by breaking down barriers to social inclusion and providing opportunities for engagement, creativity and community capacity building.

Scope of the review:

  • Provide a full and holistic review of the service delivered to our customers with a view to matching these services against the community's expectations and our organisation's vision. 
  • Determine how the service can be delivered at the right level, at what cost and in the best way possible to meet community expectations. 
  • Ensure value for money and operational efficiency. 
  • Assess opportunities for better service delivery with other entities.

The Community Wellbeing Service Delivery Review is now complete.

Community Wellbeing Cover Note(PDF, 482KB) 

Community Wellbeing Service Delivery Review(PDF, 326KB)

Southern Regional Livestock Exchange

The Southern Region Livestock Exchange (SRLX) is a commercial operation of Council. The SLRX is a cattle selling facility owned and operated by Council delivering livestock sales and holding facility.

Scope of the review:

  • Review the current service with regards to the legislative framework and standards required of the service.
  • Gather and analyse key service data such as financials, delivery model options, comparative information, levels of service, service and asset utilisation, resourcing requirements and implications, risks and future opportunities. 
  • Benchmark the SRLX facilities and performance with other saleyards.
  • Develop detailed recommendations for future service delivery.
  • The SRLX Service Delivery Review it is being conducted by GHD Pty Ltd.

Following the review Council considered a report at the 27 March 2019 meeting:

SRLX Report to Ordinary meeting of Council - 27 March 2019

SRLX Minutes of Ordinary Meeting of Council - 27 March 2019

Implementation plans will be developed to support Council’s decision.

The SRLX service delivery review is now complete.

SRLX Cover Note(PDF, 487KB) 

SRLX Service Delivery Review(PDF, 2MB)

Aquatic Services

This service includes the seasonal operation of three community heated swimming pools and provision of a multipurpose aquatic centre managed by an external contractor. The Aquatic Centre includes three heated swimming pools and an indoor gymnasium, plus a child care facility.

Scope of the review:

  • Gather and analyse key service data such as financials, delivery model options, comparative information, levels of service, service and asset utilisation, resourcing requirements and implications, risks and future opportunities.
  • Benchmark facilities with other like facilities and similar local government areas.
  • Develop detailed recommendations for future service delivery.

The Aquatic Services Service Delivery Review is now complete.

Review recommendations will be considered in development of the Aquatics Strategy.

Aquatic Services Cover Note(PDF, 599KB) 

Aquatic Services Delivery Report(PDF, 3MB)

Corporate Relations

This service provides internal and external communications, community engagement, civic event co-ordination and corporate branding services.

Scope of the review:

  • Undertake a further review of the Communication Strategy (together with the Community Engagement Strategy) and provide recommendations.
  • Review, undertake a community engagement process to check against community expectations and provide recommendations on Council’s communication and engagement channels, including digital and social media.
  • Undertake comparative analysis (using a set of agreed Council’s) to review resourcing (human and financial) levels across each sub service and provide recommendations on Council’s capacity to deliver priorities and strategic directions.
  • Evaluate current capacity to provide a focus on reputation management and public relations, in response to Council being placed into Administration in March 2021 and community research results.

The Corporate Relations review is now complete and was presented to Council at the 10 November 2021 meeting.

Corporate Relations Cover Note(PDF, 101KB)

WSC Corporate Relations SVC Review(PDF, 3MB)

Council currently provides 30 broad services and 100 sub services or functions to the community. The details of each of these services can viewed by clicking on the following link:

strategies plans 

Promoting Better Practice Review

The Division of Local Government’s Local Government Reform - Promoting Better Practice is a review process that aims to improve the viability and sustainability of councils.

These reviews can act as a ‘health check’, giving the council confidence about what is being done and helping to focus attention on key priorities. 

The process has a number of objectives:

  • to generate momentum for a culture of continuous improvement and greater compliance across local government
  • to provide an ‘early intervention’ option for councils experiencing operating problems
  • to promote good governance and ethical conduct principles
  • to identify and share innovation and good practice in local government
  • to enable the department to use review information to feed back into its work in identifying necessary legislative and policy work for the local government sector

Division of Local Government - Promoting Better Practice Review