Draft Strategic Asset Management Plan

The Draft Strategic Asset Management Plan is a long‑term framework that guides Council in managing, maintaining, renewing, and investing in community assets such as buildings, stormwater systems, roads, footpaths, parks, and other public facilities. It aims to shift Council toward a proactive, risk‑informed approach to asset management.

Council faces a significant infrastructure backlog (estimated at $157 million) due to years of renewal funding falling short of depreciation. The condition of several asset classes (especially buildings and stormwater infrastructure) is deteriorating, creating risks such as safety concerns, service disruptions, and unexpected repair costs. An updated plan is needed to address these challenges strategically.

The draft plan identifies several issues, including:

• Ageing assets across the LGA
• A growing asset renewal backlog
• Increased exposure to public safety, compliance and service interruption risks (especially for buildings and stormwater assets)
• Inefficiencies caused by reactive, short‑term asset management approaches

The draft plan proposes a shift from reactive maintenance to proactive, risk‑informed planning, enabling Council to prioritise investments based on:

• asset condition
• service needs
• long‑term sustainability.

This approach aligns with recognised best practice in asset management.

No. The Draft Strategic Asset Management Plan presents two broad scenarios:

1. With additional revenue, Council could transition to planned, proactive asset renewal supported by sustainable long‑term investment.
2. Without additional revenue, the Council would need to make more explicit decisions about service levels, risk acceptance, and potential reductions in service delivery.

The Draft Strategic Asset Management Plan covers a wide range of Council‑managed assets, including:

• Roads, footpaths and transport infrastructure
• Buildings and community facilities
• Stormwater systems
• Open space, parks and recreation facilities
• Other essential public infrastructure

By adopting a structured, long‑term approach to planning and investment, the Strategic Asset Management Plan helps Council:

• Prioritise spending where it delivers the greatest benefit
• Reduce safety, compliance and service disruption risks
• Improve transparency around cost, needs and future investments
• Progress toward best‑practice asset management