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
Snowy Valleys Council's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan and a Delivery Program with an annual Operational Plan and budget. The defining task for this term is the de-amalgamation approved at a November 2025 referendum, which will re-establish separate Tumut and Tumbarumba councils.
The council manages local roads, waste, water and sewer, libraries, parks and planning across a large rural LGA in the Riverina and Snowy Mountains, with an economy built on timber/forestry, agriculture (including Batlow apples) and Snowy Hydro. Its Delivery Program is the elected council's statement of commitment for its term.
The de-amalgamation is estimated by the NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission to cost more than $4.8 million in total (Tumut re-establishment ~$1.414 million; Tumbarumba ~$932,000), with a $5 million NSW Government grant available to help meet transition costs.
Underway now
De-amalgamation into separate Tumut and Tumbarumba councils
Referendum Nov 2025; new councils expected 1 July 2028At a constitutional referendum in November 2025, 87.28% of voters supported de-amalgamating Snowy Valleys Council back into the former Tumut Shire and Tumbarumba Shire. The NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission recommended the proposal and the Minister accepted it. A Chief Transition Officer (Nicole Jenkins) commenced in April 2026 to lead the organisational split, with the two new councils expected to be formally established on 1 July 2028.
Source: NSW Government — Snowy Valleys Council given support to hold referendum on de-amalgamation
Bushfire recovery & resilience (Black Summer 2019–20)
Ongoing since 2020Batlow and surrounding communities were badly affected by the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires. Recovery and resilience work — town recovery, tourism, and rebuilding — has continued as part of the council's program.
Planned / committed
Community Strategic Plan & Delivery Program
Current termThe council's top-level Community Strategic Plan and Delivery Program set long-term goals for the local economy (timber/forestry, agriculture, tourism), infrastructure and community wellbeing across the LGA, alongside the impacts of Snowy Hydro / Snowy 2.0 works in the area.
Source: Snowy Valleys Council — Council