Kyogle adopts $62.5 million budget with community spaces, urban streets and paths the biggest winners

The winners of Kyogle’s “well-rounded” council budget have been revealed, with some major boons for the community. See what’s included.

Kyogle Mayor Kylie Webster said council’s budget is about providing facilities and services for the community.

The winners of Kyogle’s “well-rounded” council budget have been revealed, with some major boons for the community.

Kyogle council voted unanimously this month to adopt their Operational Plan, Delivery Program, and fees and charges.

Council’s $62.5 million budget for 2024-2025 provides $21 million for regional road projects, including $20 million for the upgrade of the Clarence Way, $3.8 million for rural local roads, and $2.4 million for bridges.

“The budget is all about Council providing facilities and services for our community in a sensible and sustainable way,” Kyogle Mayor Kylie Webster said.

“Council is investing in the future of the local government area (LGA) and has budgeted funds for our villages, roads, bridges, preschools, parks, gardens, pools, library services and community facilities.”

Kyogle Council also adopted its fees and charges for the 2024-2025 year which includes two new reduced-rate waste disposal fees.

The new fees will come into effect on July 1, and will allow residents to dispose of smaller quantities of household waste for less – a 27L bag of household rubbish will cost just $1 to dispose of at Council waste facilities, while a 140L bin will cost $5.

“This is a well-rounded budget which will take Kyogle and villages into the future and see Council continue to deliver community and cultural services for the people of the LGA,” Ms Webster said.

Kyogle main street

This comes after the NSW State budget included funding for many Northern Rivers road and bridge projects.

The Kyogle Council budget includes:

•$2.55 million in grants towards a program to replace the LGA’s remaining 30 timber and composite bridges.

•$4 million in grants towards improving flood immunity of the Clarence Way between Sandilands and Bonalbo.

•$5.5 million for safety improvements on the Bruxner Highway.

•A $3.1 million grant to Tenterfield Shire Council to complete the Mount Lindesay Road upgrade between Legume and Woodenbong.

In June Cr Webster said Kyogle Council had replaced 89 bridges in three years, and physically built 81 new bridges.

“That equates to almost three new bridges built every month,” Cr Webster said.

Suffolks Bridge on Bean Creek Road now open thanks to the Fixing Country Bridges program.

Council received $40.419 million through the State Government’s Fixing Country Bridges (FCB) Program to part-fund the replacement of 77 of the bridges (which included eight bridge to culvert projects) plus a multimillion-dollar funding package from the federal government to build other 12 new bridges.

“Council’s bridge renewal program has been incredibly successful, and it has meant that our residents and primary producers no longer have to contend with load limited bridges that impact their ability to run their farms,” Cr Webster said.

“Back in 2020 before we started our bridge renewal program, Council had four bridges closed due to structural failures, 25 load limited bridges and 125 timber bridges, of which more than 70 were 70 plus years old.

“We now have just a handful of ageing timber bridges to replace and our communities enjoy safer, more reliable transport routes.”

Council has funding to replace another 16 bridges, including Montgomerys Bridge and the Risk Road Bridge.