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
Federation's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan and a Delivery Program with an annual Operational Plan and budget, shaped heavily in the current term by a large IPART-approved special rate variation intended to put the council's long-term finances on a firmer footing.
The council manages local roads, water and sewer, waste, parks and planning across a large rural LGA that straddles the Murray River on the NSW–Victoria border, with an economy built on agriculture. Its Delivery Program is the elected council's statement of commitment for its term.
IPART approved a permanent 69.94% special rate variation across 2025–26 and 2026–27 (on top of the ordinary rate peg); the council has said the additional income supports a larger infrastructure program — reported at $11.6 million for roads, bridges and footpaths, versus $8.8 million without the SRV.
Underway now
Special rate variation — 69.94% over two years
2025–26 and 2026–27 (approved May 2025, effective 1 July 2025)IPART approved Federation Council's application for a permanent 69.94% increase to general rates income over two years (52.01% in 2025–26, 11.8% in 2026–27), on top of the ordinary rate peg. The council said the increase was needed for a firmer long-term financial footing; the application also converted earlier temporary rate increases (2023–24 and 2024–25) into a permanent rate base.
Source: IPART — Media Release: IPART Decisions on Council Special Variation Applications
Long Term Financial Plan 2025–2035
2025–2035The council's Long Term Financial Plan sets out its 10-year financial strategy, including the reasoning behind the special rate variation and planned capital works. Financial sustainability — reflected in the OLG benchmark ratios in Budget & finances above — is a recurring theme.
Source: Federation Council — Long Term Financial Plan 2025–2035
Planned / committed
Additional roads, bridges & footpaths funding
Funded via the approved SRV, 2025–26 onwardThe council said approval of the special rate variation supports an $11.6 million program for roads, bridges and footpaths (versus a reported $8.8 million without the SRV) as part of its long-term financial and asset-renewal planning.
Source: Daily Advertiser — IPART approves Federation Council's 69.94 per cent rate rise