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
Murrumbidgee's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan 2025–2035, 'Creating Opportunities: Smart growth. Empowered communities.', delivered through a four-year Delivery Program and an annual Operational Plan and Budget. The current year's work is dominated by town infrastructure — libraries, a medical centre, an early learning centre and the Jerilderie water treatment plant — alongside a trial of a four-day compressed work week aimed at productivity.
The council manages local roads, water and sewer, waste, parks, libraries, swimming pools, early learning services and planning across almost 7,000 square kilometres of the Riverina, serving three townships — Darlington Point, Jerilderie and Coleambally — and the surrounding cropping and pastoral country. Its Community Strategic Plan is organised into four strategic themes: Our Identity (people, place and cultural heritage); Our Natural & Built Environment (sustainable living and liveable places); Our Economy (creating our own opportunities); and Leading by Example (civic leadership and governance).
The 2026–27 Operational Plan proposes $7.3 million in capital works, including $3.13 million for the capital roads program (the majority expected to be grant-funded), $90,000 for irrigation and pumping infrastructure and $80,000 each for the Coleambally and Darlington Point swimming pools. The OLG time-series records an own-source revenue ratio of 36.1% for 2023–24 against a >60% benchmark, and the council's CSP lists local government financial sustainability, maintaining the extensive road network and water security among the area's strategic risks.
Underway now
Jerilderie Water Treatment Plant upgrade
Community consultation to 5pm 31 August 2026; completion targeted July 2027Jerilderie's drinking water is drawn from Billabong Creek, where quality varies considerably, particularly during floods. Council has endorsed a preferred treatment process — conventional clarification and media filtration with a circular clarifier — for a new plant to replace the ageing one, and is seeking community feedback before progressing to the next design stage, as required by the NSW Safe and Secure Water Program. Council says the project will be funded through a combination of NSW Government funding, its own water reserves and contributions from renewable energy developments, and is not expected to result in additional costs being passed on to ratepayers.
Source: Murrumbidgee Council — Have your say: Jerilderie Water Treatment Plant Upgrade
Permanent library spaces at Coleambally and Darlington Point
Announced April 2026; construction listed in the 2026–27 capital programNew permanent library spaces are being established inside the Coleambally and Darlington Point council offices, funded by a $500,000 Public Library Infrastructure Grant. Both are listed among the projects underway or in planning in the 2026–27 Operational Plan and Budget, alongside the Coleambally depot upgrade, the Jerilderie Medical Centre and the Darlington Point Early Learning Centre. Library services in the LGA are delivered through Western Riverina Libraries.
Source: Murrumbidgee Council — Permanent library spaces coming to Coleambally and Darlington Point
Planned / committed
Four-day compressed work week trial
Resolved July 2026; 15-month trial from 1 January 2027, reviewed after 12 monthsAfter staff and community consultation, Council resolved in July 2026 to move towards an agreement to trial a four-day compressed work week for 15 months from 1 January 2027, subject to the required processes. Staff would work their full weekly hours across four longer days, Monday to Thursday; council offices, depots and libraries would generally close on Fridays, with customer service hours extended across the four days so total weekly hours are unchanged. Water and sewer, emergency call-outs, animal control, early learning, the caravan park and swimming pools would continue to operate. Council has estimated potential productivity savings of about $1.1 million a year, largely from reduced travel and fewer mobilisations of plant across the LGA's almost 7,000 square kilometres. The trial is to be reviewed after 12 months, including a further staff vote.