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
Brewarrina's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan 2025–2035 — 'A strong and proud Brewarrina community, shaping our shared future' — with a Delivery Program 2026–2030 and an annual Operational Plan and budget. The plan is organised around five strategic pillars and, in the council's own words, is built on steady progress and reliable services rather than rapid growth.
The council manages local and regional roads, water and sewerage, waste, parks, pools, libraries, planning, tourism and community services across a 19,162 km² shire of about 1,400 people. It is also the Crown Lands Manager for Baiame's Ngunnhu (the Brewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps). Governance is split between the elected council of nine (which sets strategic direction and policy) and an executive management team led by the General Manager.
The 2026–27 Operational Plan is built on the 3.6% IPART rate peg and projects a consolidated accounting deficit of about $2.91 million, which the council attributes mainly to non-cash depreciation; after adding depreciation back it reports a positive cash result of about $2.63 million. Own-source revenue was 32.6% in 2023–24 against a >60% OLG benchmark, and the plan states the council continues to rely on grant funding for infrastructure and service delivery in a remote regional context. The General Manager's message names financial sustainability, disciplined cost management and maximising external funding as this year's focus.
Underway now
Conservation and interpretation plans for Baiame's Ngunnhu
Grant secured April 2025; on-Country consultation May 2026As Crown Lands Manager for the National Heritage-listed Brewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps, the council secured a $350,000 grant from the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under Round 7 of the Australian Heritage Grants Program (2024–25) to develop a Conservation Management Plan and Heritage Interpretation Plan for the site. The first stage, in May 2026, was on-Country consultation with Ngemba Elders, Traditional Owners and local knowledge holders, delivered with heritage consultants Extent Heritage; the council says the work also covers improved site recording through geospatial mapping and digital documentation.
New solid waste landfill cell
Funding secured 2025; tender for construction and closure works closed July 2025The council reported that the existing Brewarrina landfill site has reached capacity, and that it was successful in a funding application for a new landfill facility under the NSW Landfill Consolidation and Environmental Improvements (LCEI) program. A request for tender covering construction of the new waste cell and closure of the existing cell was advertised through the council's Tenderlink profile and closed on 18 July 2025.
Source: Brewarrina Shire Council — Mayor's Monthly Meeting Wrap: June 2025
Youth development programs and a four-council regional approach
Regional round table July 2026; programs ongoingThe council hosts school holiday and NAIDOC programs, driving lessons, trade-based workshops and cultural mentoring for young people, and opened a new skate park at Goodooga. In July 2026 the Premier of NSW visited Yetta Dhinnakkal for a round table with the mayors and general managers of Brewarrina, Coonamble, Walgett and Bourke; the council reports that the meeting agreed on pilot youth development projects across the four LGAs, an independent review of youth service delivery, a proposed judge-referred residential program at Yetta Dhinnakkal, and continued school holiday funding.
Source: Brewarrina Shire Council — Premier visits Brewarrina to see youth development success first-hand
Recently delivered
Submission to the 2026 Murray–Darling Basin Plan Review
Submission lodged May 2026The council lodged a submission to the ten-yearly Murray–Darling Basin Plan Review required under the Water Act 2007, both for the shire and jointly through the Alliance of Western Councils. Its stated priorities include critical human water needs and water security: the council says that with no groundwater resources across large parts of the shire, the town relies almost entirely on the Barwon–Darling system and the Brewarrina weir pool.