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 Lachlan's direction is set out in the Community Strategic Plan 2042 (2025 revision) and a Delivery Program 2026–2030 with an annual Operational Plan and budget, adopted on 18 June 2026 — shaped by an ageing road and timber-bridge network, a new housing strategy and development control plan on exhibition, and a rate base of about 5,270 farmland and residential assessments spread over 7,127 km².
The council manages local roads and bridges, water and sewer, waste, parks, libraries, aerodrome and planning across a Southern Tablelands LGA of villages and grazing country. Its Community Strategic Plan 2042 is organised into five themes — Our community, Our economy, Our environment, Our infrastructure and Our civic leadership — with the stated vision 'to build and maintain sustainable communities while retaining the region's natural beauty'. The Delivery Program is the elected council's statement of commitment for its term.
The 2026–27 Operational Plan adopts the full 4.90% IPART rate peg (an estimated additional $473,000 in rates income), projects a consolidated operating deficit before capital grants of $2.36 million, and funds a $17.07 million capital works program across plant and fleet, roads and bridges, waste facilities, water supply and sewer. Council consulted on special-rate-variation options in 2023 following an independent AEC Group financial sustainability review, then discontinued the SRV process on 5 November 2023.
- Upper Lachlan Shire Council — Community Strategic Plan 2042 (2025 revision) · 2025 revision
- Upper Lachlan Shire Council — Delivery Program 2026–2030 · Adopted 18 Jun 2026
- Upper Lachlan Shire Council — Operational Plan 2026–2027 · Adopted 18 Jun 2026
- Upper Lachlan Shire Council — Plans and Reports · 2026
Underway now
Timber Bridge Replacement Program
Ongoing; funded through federal and state bridge programsCouncil is replacing ageing timber bridges to remove the load limits imposed on them. Remaining bridges listed on the council's Major Projects page include Peelwood Creek Bridge on Cooksvale Road, Peelwood ($1.11M total), Crookwell River Bridge on Julong Road, Binda ($1.54M) and Burra Burra Creek Bridge on Blue Hill Road, Golspie ($0.96M). Each is funded 50% by the federal Bridges Renewal Program, 45% by the NSW Fixing Country Bridges program and 5% by council.
Draft Housing Strategy and Development Control Plan
Amended drafts on public exhibition, 2026Council has placed an amended draft Upper Lachlan Housing Strategy and a draft Upper Lachlan Development Control Plan on public exhibition, running community drop-in sessions in late July 2026 to take feedback. Together they set where and how new housing and development can occur across the shire's towns and villages. The council's 'Planning Together' initiative was named a finalist in the 2026 Local Government NSW Planning Awards.
Recently delivered
Crookwell Caravan Park cabins
Six cabins delivered and installed, August 2026Six prefabricated cabins, built in NSW, were delivered and installed at the Crookwell Caravan Park in August 2026 to expand visitor accommodation in the shire. The cabins were funded through Transgrid's community investment funding attached to the HumeLink East transmission project, supporting council's plans for upgraded tourist accommodation at the park.
Source: Upper Lachlan Shire Council — Delivery of new cabins a boost for Crookwell