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
Temora's direction is set out in 'Our Plan for the Future 2025-2035', the council's ten-year Integrated Planning & Reporting suite prepared under s405 of the Local Government Act, alongside a Financial Sustainability Program that in 2026 put a Draft Long Term Financial Plan and three special rate variation scenarios out for community consultation.
The council manages local roads, sewer, stormwater, waste, parks, libraries, planning and a set of unusually aviation-heavy assets across a 2,802 km² sheep-wheat-belt shire of roughly 6,000 people — it owns and operates Temora Airport and the Bellman Hangar, developed the Temora Airpark Estate, and hosts the Temora Aviation Museum on the airport site. Its planning documents are backed by a MARKYT Community Scorecard survey of residents.
Council reported an operating performance ratio of 1.3% in 2023–24 and met 7 of the 9 OLG benchmarks, but its own forward modelling projects a $2.7 million operating deficit in the draft 2026/27 budget and an average deficit of about $5.4 million a year across the Draft Long Term Financial Plan 2026/27–2036/37. That projection is the stated basis for the 2026 'Securing Our Future' consultation on special rate variation options.
Underway now
'Securing Our Future' special rate variation consultation
Consultation 17 July – 9am Friday 28 August 2026; council decision expected November 2026Council is consulting on a Base Case and three permanent SRV scenarios phased over three years from 2027–28: Scenario A, stabilise finances with some service reductions (79.40% cumulative, council's preferred option); Scenario B, stabilise finances and maintain services (101.25%); Scenario C, protect services and assets (124.25%). The Base Case (rate peg only) is about 10.87% cumulative. Residents can use an online rates calculator, complete a survey, make a written submission or attend drop-in sessions in Temora, Springdale and Ariah Park. Council states no decision has been made; it would consider whether to apply to IPART in November 2026, and any approved variation would start 1 July 2027.
Source: Temora Shire Council — Securing Our Future: SRV Community Consultation
Draft Long Term Financial Plan 2026/27 to 2036/37 and special rate variation consultation
Consultation 17 July – 28 August 2026; SRV decision not expected until the November 2026 Council meetingCouncil consulted on potential special rate variation options alongside a ten-year Draft Long Term Financial Plan, which models a base case (rate peg only, current services) and three scenarios that combine SRV options with different service levels and asset-renewal settings. A Capacity to Pay report published with the consultation found broadly stable payment behaviour across the shire, while identifying localities in Temora township and Ariah Park with greater levels of disadvantage. Council says an engagement report goes to its September meeting and a decision on whether to apply for an SRV is not expected until the November meeting.
Recently delivered
Productivity and Efficiency Gains Improvement Plan
Published 2025; measures ongoingBefore developing SRV options, council published a Productivity and Efficiency Gains Improvement Plan documenting operational efficiencies, service reviews, improved long-term financial planning, grant-seeking and cost-saving measures. Council cites it when explaining why it says cost savings alone cannot close the projected gap.
Source: Temora Shire Council — Productivity and Efficiency Gains Improvement Plan (PDF)