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
Muswellbrook Shire's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan and a Delivery Program 2025–2029 with an annual Operational Plan and budget, dominated by preparing for the wind-down of the shire's coal-mining economy — around 56% of the council's rate revenue comes from mining, and the Mt Arthur and Mangoola mines are slated to close around 2030.
The council manages local roads, water and sewer, waste, libraries, parks and planning across a large rural Upper Hunter shire whose economy is built on thermal-coal mining (Mt Arthur, Bengalla) and power generation (Bayswater; Liddell closed in 2023), alongside wine and thoroughbred studs. Its Delivery Program is the elected council's statement of commitment for its term.
The council's Long-Term Financial Plan and a 25.9% Special Rate Variation on the mining rate category (approved by IPART for 2026–27) are aimed at cushioning the loss of mining rate income — projected to fall by around $5M per year in the near term — and building capacity for economic diversification.
Underway now
Special Rate Variation on the mining rate category
Approved by IPART for 2026–27IPART approved a 25.9% Special Rate Variation applied exclusively to the mining rate category from 2026–27, expected to raise about $6M in additional revenue. The council sought it to strengthen reserves, maintain assets and fund economic diversification as major coal mines approach closure. Residential and other categories are unaffected by the SRV.
Mining transition & economic diversification
Ongoing — mines slated to close around 2030With the Mt Arthur and Mangoola coal mines slated to close around 2030 and mining supplying roughly 56% of the council's rate revenue, the council is planning for a major economic transition — attracting new industries, repurposing former mining land and sustaining local jobs.
Source: Muswellbrook Shire Council — Community Strategic Plan
FOGO food-and-garden organics kerbside service
Live since 1 July 2024The council introduced a combined food organics and garden organics (FOGO) service from 1 July 2024, letting households put food scraps in the weekly green-lid bin to divert organic waste from landfill.