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
Dungog's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan 2025–2035 (adopted 18 June 2025), supported by a Delivery Program, an annual Operational Plan and budget, and a Resourcing Strategy 2025–2029 — with the shire's two replacement river bridges, at Clarence Town and Gresford, the dominant capital undertakings of this term.
The council manages local roads and bridges, waste, parks, libraries, planning and regulatory services across a 2,250 km² rural shire of about 9,900 people in the Hunter, built on beef and dairy grazing, timber and tourism around Barrington Tops. The CSP's vision is "A vibrant, united community, with a sustainable economy. An area where rural character, community safety and lifestyle are preserved.", organised under five themes: Our Community, Our Environment and Planning, Our Economy, Our Infrastructure and Our Leadership. The Delivery Program is the elected council's statement of commitment for its term.
In 2023–24 the council reported an operating performance ratio of −25.8% and own-source revenue of 37.7%, both outside the OLG benchmarks, alongside an infrastructure backlog ratio of 9.7% and a building-and-infrastructure renewals ratio of 338.9%. Its five-year special rate variation, approved by IPART for 2019–20 to 2023–24 (cumulative 76.0%), completed in 2023–24 and is retained permanently in the rate base. The council publishes a Long Term Financial Plan (2022/23–2032/33) and an annual Operational Plan and budget alongside its Integrated Planning & Reporting documents.
Underway now
New Clarence Town Bridge over the Williams River
Open to single-lane traffic as at May 2026; old bridge rehabilitation from August 2026A replacement crossing of the Williams River at Clarence Town: a dual-lane structure about 132 metres long and 14.4 metres wide with a 2.5-metre shared pedestrian and cycle way, upgraded approaches and new crossing points on Limeburners Creek Road. It removes the load and width restrictions on the historic Brig O'Johnston Bridge that had forced heavy vehicles onto detours of up to 52 kilometres. Total project funding is $22.8 million — $11.8 million from the Australian Government and $11 million from the NSW Government, including the NSW Fixing Country Roads Program and Transport for NSW. Council's Infrastructure & Assets team is delivering the work with Bridgeworks (Aust) Pty Ltd. From 10 August 2026 Durham Street at the Duke Street intersection was permanently closed for the next stage, rehabilitating the old bridge so it remains a community asset.
New Gresford Bridge over the Paterson River
Pre-construction from mid-June 2026; construction from early August 2026, about 12 monthsA 68-metre single-lane concrete bridge to replace the ageing Gresford Suspension Bridge, which connects Gresford to an isolated community west of the Paterson River. Council states the new structure will provide all-weather access for emergency vehicles during heavy rain. It is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and NSW Governments under the Betterment Funding program, with Bridge Marine and Engineering Pty Ltd as construction partner. The existing suspension bridge stays open during construction, with traffic management in place; works are anticipated to finish by mid-2027 subject to weather.
Recently delivered
Community Strategic Plan 2025–2035 and Resourcing Strategy 2025–2029
Both adopted by Council on 18 June 2025The council adopted a new ten-year Community Strategic Plan built on community values reaffirmed through consultation in 2016, 2022 and 2024, together with a Resourcing Strategy for 2025–2029. The plan sets the vision and the five themes — Our Community, Our Environment and Planning, Our Economy, Our Infrastructure, Our Leadership — that the Delivery Program and annual Operational Plans must support, and names financial sustainability and well-maintained infrastructure among the community's stated priorities.
Source: Dungog Shire Council — Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035