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
Gwydir's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan 2017–2027, a Delivery Program 2026/2030 and an annual Operational Plan and budget, organised around five themes and dominated in this term by a new council administration building in Bingara, town-centre green space in Warialda, and rebuilding a 2,335 km road network after repeated natural disasters.
The council manages local roads, water and sewer, waste, parks and planning across a 9,260 km² North West Slopes LGA of about 4,900 people, and also runs an unusually broad set of community services for a shire this size — preschools and a mobile resource unit, the Naroo aged-care facility, community home support, fitness centres, swimming pools, libraries, caravan parks, the Roxy Theatre and The Living Classroom. Its five Integrated Planning and Reporting themes are a healthy and cohesive community (Social), building the business base (Economy), an environmentally responsible shire (Environment), proactive regional and local leadership (Organisation), and Governance.
The audited 2024–25 accounts show total income of $59.6M and a net operating result of +$7.9M, which becomes −$11.3M once grants and contributions for capital purposes are excluded — a reminder of how much of the council's activity is grant-funded (own-source revenue was 44.2% in 2023–24, against a >60% benchmark). For 2026–27 the Statement of Revenue Policy projects about $9.9M in notional general rate income, $632k in domestic waste charges, $854k in waste disposal charges, $2.4M in water income and $1.3M in sewer income. The Mayor's 2024–25 message notes that grant funding 'is no longer as abundant as in previous years'.
Underway now
New council administration building, Bingara
Under construction through 2024–25; identified as a major initiative of the 2026/2030 Delivery ProgramCouncil is building a new administration building in Bingara to bring staff back under one roof. The Mayor's message in the Annual Report 2024–25 records that the facility is 'well underway' and that staff had been displaced for more than four years; the Delivery Program 2026/2030 lists it alongside the Warialda green space as a major initiative for the term.
Source: Gwydir Shire Council — Annual Report 2024–25 (Mayor's message)
Landfill fees for tyres and commercial waste
Announced 22 July 2026, to be implemented 'in coming weeks'Council advised residents, businesses and visitors that fees for the disposal of tyres and commercial waste would be introduced at landfills across the shire, saying the charges help meet operational and maintenance costs and support the upkeep of community assets. The 2026/2027 Statement of Revenue Policy sets the tyre rates (for example $12 per car tyre, $25 per 4WD or light-truck tyre).
Source: Gwydir Shire Council — Landfill Fees and Charges Implementation
Recently delivered
Warialda Town Square
Completed during 2024–25A new green space in the centre of Warialda providing parking and a place to stop, described by the Mayor as a highlight of the 2024–25 year. The square is now used as the venue for the annual Warialda Honey Festival.
IB Bore Road and post-disaster road rebuilding
IB Bore Road completed in 2024–25; disaster recovery works ongoingCouncil reports completing IB Bore Road, which it describes as its most expensive infrastructure project to date, on time and within budget. It forms part of a wider program of repair and rebuilding on the shire's 2,335 km road network following recent natural disasters, funded through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and the Safer Local Roads Infrastructure Program.