PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council’s draft Corporate Plan setting out Council’s major objectives over the next 12 months and what is proposed for the following two years, was formally adopted by Administrator Garry Payne recently.

The Plan includes the annual Budget and identifies Council’s major capital works projects including $876,000 for the Wauchope CBD Bypass, $550,000 for detailed designs for Stingray Creek Bridge, the upgrading of 4.85 kilometres of Lorne Road, east of Stewarts River Road and the development of a Local Growth Management Strategy.

The draft Corporate Plan which went on public exhibition at the end of April attracted five submissions from the general public.

Administrator Garry Payne said, “As I have previously indicated, the next few years will be tough going for Council and that is reflected in the Corporate Plan.

“Despite the financial difficulties Council is now facing, we have not increased rates above the 3.5% allowable increase,” Mr Payne said.

Financial modelling has been undertaken to forecast the financial health of the organisation over a ten (10) year period. Currently the model is reflecting anticipated deficits of $1 million for 2009-10, $2.1million for 2010-11 and $2.7 million for 2011-12.

“After a number of years of high profile and costly projects, we have now entered into a phase of back to basic services which I believe the community has a right to expect,” Mr Payne said.

Copies of the full Corporate Plan will soon be available from Council’s offices or on the web www.pmhc.nsw.gov.au/corporateplan