Mayor’s Monthly Meeting Wrap – February 2026

Council came together for their first Ordinary Meeting for 2026 on Tuesday February 24.

Four Mile Reserve Redevelopment Underway

Work on the highly anticipated Four Mile Reserve makeover project kicked off last week. This exciting redevelopment will see one of our most popular riverside recreation areas upgraded into a modern destination for both locals and visitors alike. Although the upgrade is a real win for our community, this work means a large part of the Reserve, the amenities and the boat ramp, are now closed so work can be carried out safely and efficiently.

Work is scheduled to be completed and the Reserve re-opened by early June (pending weather), so we do not anticipate any impacts to the Bre Big Fish happening over the June long weekend. The contractor and Council understand how integral Four Mile is for this important community event and will do everything in their power to ensure we meet this deadline.

We will keep you updated on progress over the next few months, and very much look forward to revealing the new-look Four Mile Reserve in June.

Goodooga Artesian Baths Now Open

I’m pleased to share that the Great Artesian Baths in Goodooga are now open for the 2026 season. This unique spot continues to draw visitors from across not just our region, but right around the country, offering naturally heated, mineral-rich waters, peaceful surrounds, and the kind of outback hospitality our Shire is known for.

Council has completed essential maintenance over summer to ensure the facility is clean, safe and ready to welcome travellers once again. With free onsite camping, accessible amenities, and those big outback skies, the Baths remain one of our region’s most popular destinations.

Tourism is an important part of our local economy, and the Goodooga community plays a key role in showcasing what makes the Brewarrina Shire special. I encourage everyone to spread the word and take pride in this remarkable asset as it gears up for another bumper season.

Telstra Outage

We’ve been advised that Telstra will be upgrading the mobile base station servicing Brewarrina next week. Mobile services in the area will be temporarily affected while this work is carried out.

Service will be impacted during the following periods:

Tuesday March 10 (partial outage)
Wednesday March 11 to Thursday March 12 (full site outage)
Friday March 13 (additional outage if required)

Council is working with Telstra to ensure these works are carried out as quickly as possible and interruptions are minimal.

We’ve been told Telstra customers should have received a text message advising of the upcoming interruptions, but we know how inconvenient these outages can be, so we want to make sure everyone is aware and makes the necessary arrangements.

The works are not expected to impact landline services, NBN or Satellite internet services.

If you have WiFi available, Telstra recommends switching your phone over to WiFi calling. This is a free setting on most popular phones and will allow you to make and receive calls while connected to WiFi. Local businesses should also check in with their bank for assistance with EFTPOS terminals.

If you need any further information or have any enquiries, I encourage you to please get in contact Telstra directly.

New Goodooga Skatepark

It’s been exciting to watch the new Goodooga Skate Park take shape over the past few months, and I’m pleased to report the project is now in its final stages. Turf and fencing are almost completed, with the park expected to open for community use shortly after.

This is a fantastic addition for Goodooga, giving young people a safe, modern space to come together, skate, scooter and ride. While the shade structure will be installed a little later, the core facility will be ready for families to enjoy very soon.

Funded through the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, this project is another strong investment in the wellbeing and vibrancy of our smaller communities. I look forward to seeing Goodooga’s young people make this space their own in the coming weeks.

2026/27 Budget Planning

Council has begun work on the 2026/27 Budget, with a clear timetable set out to ensure the process is transparent and financially responsible.

Councillors will take part in two key workshops — one in March to look at capital projects, and another in April to review operating costs. A draft budget will then go to the May Council meeting before being placed on public exhibition for 28 days, giving our community the chance to read through the plan and provide feedback. The final budget will be adopted in late June, ready for the next financial year.

We know many households and businesses are already feeling the pressure of rising costs. Council is very mindful of this, and we understand that any increase to rates or fees adds to that strain. At the same time, these adjustments are necessary to ensure we can continue delivering essential services, maintain our roads and infrastructure, and meet the rising cost of materials, utilities and compliance requirements.

As endorsed by Councillors late last year, the draft budget will be built on sensible financial settings, including the 3.6% rate peg set by IPART, a 5.8% increase to fees and charges to keep services sustainable in our remote region, and a 3.5% wages projection ahead of the State Award decision.

Once the draft Operational Plan is released on May 26, residents will be able to make written submissions. Council will consider all feedback before adopting the final 2026/27 Operational Plan and Budget on June 23.

This process ensures we continue to plan responsibly for the future of our Shire while being upfront about the financial pressures we all share.

Community Strategic Plan

Late last year, many of you took part in our engagement sessions to help shape the next Community Strategic Plan (CSP) – our long‑term roadmap that will guide the future of Brewarrina Shire over the next decade. Your ideas, concerns and aspirations have been central to this work, and I want to thank everyone who contributed their time and insight.

Over the last few months, the team has been carefully reviewing all the feedback gathered from the pop-up community events, surveys and conversations across the Shire. This input has helped us identify the priorities that matter most to you, like stronger services, safer roads, support for young people, economic opportunities and a Shire that remains proud, connected and resilient.

We are now working on the Draft CSP, which will be presented at next month’s Council meeting. Once endorsed for public exhibition, we’ll share more detail about what we heard from the community and how those ideas have shaped our plans for the next decade.

This is your plan for your future, and your voice continues to guide it. I look forward to presenting the draft and inviting further feedback as we take the next step together.