2026/27 Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget Released for Feedback

Naracoorte Lucindale Council has opted to stick with an increase in general rate revenue of 5% - in line with its long-term plans - despite increasing cost pressures, such as escalating fuel prices.

Council endorsed the release of the Draft 2026/27 Annual Business Plan and Budget for public consultation at its 28 April meeting held at Lucindale and is now inviting your feedback.

Roads will continue to be the Council’s biggest investment in 2026/27 with a total of $7.633M in capital works budgeted and $1.921M for road maintenance. Major road reconstruction projects include Diagonal Road ($1.55M), Grubbed Road ($1.24M), Moyhall Road ($1.24M) and Mundalena Road ($415,000). Resealing projects totalling $800,513 have been budgeted for Wrattonbully, Shepherds, Conkar and Minnie Crowe roads; and resheeting projects totalling $1.53M have been budgeted for Conkar, Reid, Wild Dog Valley, Plantation and Messamurray roads, and Fernleigh Lane.

Works to upgrade the Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange (NRLE) will continue, with a capital spend of $742,131 forecast for 2026/27. This includes $527,341 for continuing infrastructure upgrades to the sheep yards.




Other capital projects proposed include:

  • $300,000 on playground renewal
  • $250,000 for Struan Bridge upgrade investigations, design and costing estimates
  • $217,178 on footpath works at Lucindale
  • $180,000 on solar lighting at Naracoorte’s Memorial Oval
  • $135,000 for new public amenities in the Frances Recreation Reserve
  • $115,000 for Naracoorte Aerodrome projects including sealing the CFS fill point loading area
  • $100,000 on infrastructure support for sporting facilities throughout the Council area, plus an additional $40,000 for new signage at Naracoorte & District Sports Centre
  • $80,567 on Lucindale’s Loechel Park.

Mayor Mr Patrick Ross said that Council continued to reference its strategic plans while ensuring projects, activities and services were delivered in a cost-effective way for the community.

“The escalating fuel prices and economic impacts caused by the Middle East conflict look likely to continue into 2026/27 and Council has considered these issues in developing the draft plan and budget,” he said. “Despite the added budgetary pressures on Council and likely increases in CPI, Council has determined to keep the general rate increase at 5%, in line with our long-term plans. We will further review the impact of external factors prior to adopting the budget.”

The community is invited to review and comment on the 2026/27 Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget from 9am on Monday 4 May 2026 to 9am on Wednesday 27 May 2026. You can have your say in the following ways by:

  • Completing the online feedback form at the bottom of this page
  • Completing a hard copy feedback form available from the Naracoorte and Lucindale Council offices or Naracoorte Library
  • Emailing council@nlc.sa.gov.au
  • Writing to Council at PO Box 555, Naracoorte, SA, 5271

As part of the community consultation process, an hour will be set aside for verbal responses and questions at the May Council Meeting to be held in the Naracoorte Council Chambers on Tuesday 26 May 2026 at 5pm.

You can read through the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget online in the Documents Library at the top of this page and hard copies are also available from the Naracoorte and Lucindale Council offices and Naracoorte Library. Council will consider formal adoption of the Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2026/27 at its 23 June meeting.

Naracoorte Lucindale Council has opted to stick with an increase in general rate revenue of 5% - in line with its long-term plans - despite increasing cost pressures, such as escalating fuel prices.

Council endorsed the release of the Draft 2026/27 Annual Business Plan and Budget for public consultation at its 28 April meeting held at Lucindale and is now inviting your feedback.

Roads will continue to be the Council’s biggest investment in 2026/27 with a total of $7.633M in capital works budgeted and $1.921M for road maintenance. Major road reconstruction projects include Diagonal Road ($1.55M), Grubbed Road ($1.24M), Moyhall Road ($1.24M) and Mundalena Road ($415,000). Resealing projects totalling $800,513 have been budgeted for Wrattonbully, Shepherds, Conkar and Minnie Crowe roads; and resheeting projects totalling $1.53M have been budgeted for Conkar, Reid, Wild Dog Valley, Plantation and Messamurray roads, and Fernleigh Lane.

Works to upgrade the Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange (NRLE) will continue, with a capital spend of $742,131 forecast for 2026/27. This includes $527,341 for continuing infrastructure upgrades to the sheep yards.




Other capital projects proposed include:

  • $300,000 on playground renewal
  • $250,000 for Struan Bridge upgrade investigations, design and costing estimates
  • $217,178 on footpath works at Lucindale
  • $180,000 on solar lighting at Naracoorte’s Memorial Oval
  • $135,000 for new public amenities in the Frances Recreation Reserve
  • $115,000 for Naracoorte Aerodrome projects including sealing the CFS fill point loading area
  • $100,000 on infrastructure support for sporting facilities throughout the Council area, plus an additional $40,000 for new signage at Naracoorte & District Sports Centre
  • $80,567 on Lucindale’s Loechel Park.

Mayor Mr Patrick Ross said that Council continued to reference its strategic plans while ensuring projects, activities and services were delivered in a cost-effective way for the community.

“The escalating fuel prices and economic impacts caused by the Middle East conflict look likely to continue into 2026/27 and Council has considered these issues in developing the draft plan and budget,” he said. “Despite the added budgetary pressures on Council and likely increases in CPI, Council has determined to keep the general rate increase at 5%, in line with our long-term plans. We will further review the impact of external factors prior to adopting the budget.”

The community is invited to review and comment on the 2026/27 Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget from 9am on Monday 4 May 2026 to 9am on Wednesday 27 May 2026. You can have your say in the following ways by:

  • Completing the online feedback form at the bottom of this page
  • Completing a hard copy feedback form available from the Naracoorte and Lucindale Council offices or Naracoorte Library
  • Emailing council@nlc.sa.gov.au
  • Writing to Council at PO Box 555, Naracoorte, SA, 5271

As part of the community consultation process, an hour will be set aside for verbal responses and questions at the May Council Meeting to be held in the Naracoorte Council Chambers on Tuesday 26 May 2026 at 5pm.

You can read through the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget online in the Documents Library at the top of this page and hard copies are also available from the Naracoorte and Lucindale Council offices and Naracoorte Library. Council will consider formal adoption of the Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2026/27 at its 23 June meeting.

Page last updated: 14 May 2026, 07:02 AM