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
Upper Hunter Shire's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan ('Upper Hunter 2032') and a Delivery Program with an annual Operational Plan and budget, with returning the General Fund to a sustainable position as a central theme of the current term.
The council manages local roads, water and sewer, waste, libraries, parks and planning across a very large, sparsely-populated rural shire anchored by Scone, Aberdeen, Merriwa and Murrurundi. It runs three funds — General, Water and Sewer — and its Delivery Program is the elected council's statement of commitment for its term.
The council has said it needs to address a core deficit in its General Fund while maintaining service levels and asset renewal; IPART approved a permanent Special Rate Variation of 10% a year for three years (2025–26 to 2027–28) in May 2025, and the council is updating its Long Term Financial Plan 2026–2035.
Underway now
Special Rate Variation & financial sustainability
Approved May 2025; applies 2025–26 to 2027–28IPART approved a permanent Special Rate Variation of 10% in general income each year for three years (a cumulative ~33.1%), which the council says is needed to address a core deficit in its General Fund and maintain service levels and asset renewal. It was the council's first SRV in around a decade.
Source: IPART — Upper Hunter Shire Council Special Variation 2025–26 (Final Report)
Planned / committed
Museum of Australian Horse Country
Business case 2025A proposed equine-heritage museum and visitor attraction for Scone, aimed at the region's identity as Australia's thoroughbred-breeding capital; the council commissioned a business case in 2025.
Recently delivered
Scone CBD Revitalisation
Officially openedA ~$24.7M reconstruction and upgrade of Kelly Street in central Scone (including $8M from the Australian Government) with resurfaced roads, widened footpaths, upgraded lighting, landscaping and renewed water and stormwater assets, plus an Equine Walk of Fame celebrating the region's horse-breeding heritage.
Source: Upper Hunter Shire Council — Scone CBD Revitalisation