23 November 2023
Despite global economic pressures, the 2022/23 Southern Downs Regional Council Annual Report reflects a community focusing on progress, facing challenges head-on and leveraging opportunities.
While it is legislative requirement for Council to report on its operations and performance, the annual report importantly provides its stakeholders, including residents, ratepayers, businesses and government agencies with a comprehensive overview of Council’s activities as measured against its Corporate Plan.
In adopting the report, Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi said Council had been conservative and realistic with a tight budget to deliver essential services and address the aging infrastructure cliff amid financially challenging times.
“It has been a significant achievement of Council and its staff to steer the organisation through flood recovery while progressing a number of significant projects,” Mayor Pennisi said.
“This resilience reflects effective financial management, strategic planning and the dedication of Council and its staff to serve the community.
“Council has not been immune to the pressures of rising costs and has worked diligently to deliver essential services to ratepayers.
“We worked within a responsible budget to progress road recovery works and a number of significant milestone projects that will greatly enhance the liveability of our region.
“The redevelopment of the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery and Library complex is nearing completion. We can look forward to work on the Warwick Saleyards starting soon, and essential safety work to upgrade four of the fourteen river crossings on Condamine River Road has been completed.
“Stanthorpe residents have seen the water saving benefits of more than 2700 smart water meters installed and customers can now access water consumption data in real time through the MYSDRCWater online portal as part of stage 1 of the water security project.
“Council has engaged Taggle Systems for stage 2 of the roll-out of smart meters throughout the rest of the region, which will commence in January 2024.
“Southern Downs remains a great place to live, work, play, stay and invest and I look forward to the seeing these and other projects come to fruition in the 2023/24 financial year for the benefit of our community.”
The 2022/23 Southern Downs Regional Council Annual Report is available for review online at
www.sdrc.qld.gov.au/council/publications/annual-reports.
Last edited date 09 Jan 2024