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
Wentworth's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan 2026–2036, 'Wentworth Shire: Our Future in Focus' (endorsed 23 June 2025), delivered through a Delivery Program 2026–2030 and an annual Operational Plan and budget (2026/2027 endorsed 24 June 2026). The near-term work is dominated by waste: expanding the Buronga Landfill and switching the shire to a three-bin kerbside service in October 2026.
The council manages local roads, water and sewer, waste, aerodromes, libraries, parks and planning across one of the largest and least densely populated LGAs in NSW. Its plans are organised around a 'quadruple bottom line' of four objectives — Economic, Social, Environmental and Civic Leadership — under the vision that 'Wentworth Shire will work together to create a thriving, attractive and welcoming community.'
The 2026/2027 budget forecasts $45.9M of income against $36.1M of operating expenditure and $18.0M of capital expenditure, funded without new borrowings and with $1.34M drawn from restricted reserves. Rates and annual charges ($12.7M) are a slightly smaller share of income than operating grants ($13.2M); the Operational Plan notes that the shire's small population base limits how much can be raised from fees and charges, and that own-source revenue sits below the OLG benchmark.
Underway now
Three-bin kerbside collection service
Bins delivered late September 2026; collections start the week of 5 October 2026Council is replacing its single weekly general-waste bin with a three-bin service: a weekly lime-green food-and-garden-organics (FOGO) bin, plus general waste and recycling collected in alternating fortnights on the household's existing collection day. Eligible properties receive a 240-litre FOGO bin, a 240-litre recycling bin, a kitchen caddy and 150 compostable liners (with a further roll each year for three years). The rollout is delivered with Halve Waste, a regional waste-reduction partnership the council says now covers 18 councils, and is funded through the domestic waste charge, which rises to $370.25 for 2026/2027. Cleanaway remains the collection contractor. Drop-in information sessions ran across Buronga, Dareton, Gol Gol, Pomona, Trentham Cliffs and Wentworth between 24 July and 29 August 2026.
Source: Wentworth Shire Council — Council Announces 3-Bin Kerbside Collection Service
Buronga Landfill expansion and Front End Recycling Facility
Stage 1, Cell 1 under construction; recycling facility opened 14 May 2026The Buronga Landfill, on Arumpo Road about 2.5 km from the Silver City Highway, is being expanded to secure the shire's waste capacity; the council's project page records the current stage as construction of Stage 1, Cell 1 with filling continuing in the existing cell, and publishes the Environmental Impact Statement, consent, Landfill Environmental Management Plan and a public complaints register. A $1.2 million compactor was commissioned in September 2025, and a Front End Recycling Facility opened on 14 May 2026 so residents can drop cardboard, co-mingled recycling, scrap metal, waste oil, DrumMuster containers, Community Recycling Centre items and Round Again reusables before the weighbridge. The council is transferring $2.23 million to a Buronga Landfill Reserve in 2026/2027 for future works.
Planned / committed
2026/2027 capital works program
Financial year 2026/2027The Operational Plan 2026/2027 budgets $18.0 million of capital expenditure. The largest items are $6.10 million of roads projects (including the Regional Emergency Road Repair Fund, Milpara Road and the Cadell Street footpath in Wentworth), $3.30 million of plant replacement, $1.79 million of sewer upgrades (sewer main refurbishment and Dareton Sewer Pump Station #5), $1.34 million of water upgrades, $1.10 million for the Dareton Effluent Disposal Station, $750,000 of stormwater upgrades and $550,000 of building renewals. The plan sets out 49 planned actions for the year and no new loan borrowings.
Source: Wentworth Shire Council — Operational Plan 2026/2027