What the council is working on
Recent deliveries, what's underway now, and what's planned next — drawn from the council's own plans, budgets and project pages. We report what the council has publicly said it's doing; every item links to its source.
The council's stated direction
Bourke's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035, a Delivery Program 2025-2029 and an annual Operational Plan and Statement of Revenue Policy. The stated vision is that 'Bourke Shire will continue to grow as an iconic, outback, regional community and destination, which is united and productive, thriving on practical access to all modern services.'
The council groups its work into five strategic areas of focus: Environmental Sustainability, Liveable and Vibrant Community, Economic Prosperity, Governance and Organisational Performance, and Infrastructure. Across 41,598 km² it runs local and regional roads (most of them unsealed), town and village water supplies, sewerage, drainage, waste, Bourke Airport, the Back O' Bourke Exhibition Centre and PV Jandra, the pool, the library, cemeteries and development assessment — and it works through the Far North West Joint Organisation with Cobar and Walgett on shared issues such as the western area air services contract, a regional road safety study and tourism.
The council reported a net operating surplus of $0.763 million in 2024-25 (down from $8.789 million in 2023-24) on an unqualified audit, renewed $6.5 million of assets and spent a further $7.8 million on new assets, most of it on roads. Its own-source revenue ratio of 34.5% is well below the OLG's 60% benchmark, meaning most income arrives as grants and contributions; its Long-Term Financial Plan 2025-2035 sets out ten-year projections on that basis.
Underway now
Sealing the last of the Wanaaring Road
Funding announced August 2025; works anticipated from November 2025The council secured a $2,818,400 grant from the Australian Government's Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program to seal the final 9.4 km of the Bourke-Milparinka (Wanaaring) Road, completing the sealing of the full 190 km route. The total project cost is $3.2523 million, with the council contributing $704,600. The council has pursued the sealing of this road since its first tranche of funding in 2017 and describes it as previously often impassable in both wet and dry conditions.
Source: Bourke Shire Council — Media Release: Wanaaring Road Sealing Funding, 6 August 2025
Emergency water carting to Byrock village
Commenced 17 November 2025; three days a week until storage recoversCouncil began carting water for domestic use to the village of Byrock on 17 November 2025 after village water storage approached the level below which it can no longer be pumped effectively. The supply is non-potable and the council has asked residents to restrict use to internal household purposes. Carting runs three days a week and continues until there is enough water in storage to resume pumping; funding was provided by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Recently delivered
Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035 and Delivery Program 2025-2029
Draft CSP exhibited from 31 March 2025; plans published July 2025Following the 2024 election the council reviewed its Integrated Planning and Reporting suite, exhibiting a draft Community Strategic Plan and draft Delivery Program in 2025 and publishing the Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035, Delivery Program 2025-2029, Long-Term Financial Plan 2025-2035, Workforce Management Strategy 2025-2029 and Asset Management Strategy and Plans. Progress against the Delivery Program is reported half-yearly.
Source: Bourke Shire Council — Strategies & Plans (Integrated Planning & Reporting)