Quarter 1 Report (October to December 2025)

Due: 31 January 2026
Submitted: 31 January 2026 
Financial Report:  Quarter 1 Financial Report to Inspector (January 2026)

Cover Report: Quarter 1 Cover Report to Inspector (January 2026)

What this report covers:

• A clear summary of the Shire’s financial performance as at 31 December 2025
• An update on the Financial Recovery Plan (FRP)
• Progress against Ministerial Expectations
• Key financial indicators and ratios
• Updates on debt, reserves and cash flow
• Commentary on risks, workforce capacity, and capital works delivery
• Governance, planning and organisational improvement actions
• The CEO’s Assurance Statement confirming accuracy, transparency and accountability

Key Highlights:

• Quarterly submission met on time, demonstrating improved governance discipline.
• The Shire recorded a $9.62 million operating surplus at mid‑year – driven primarily by Bluebush Village occupancy and expenditure restraint.
• Cash position remains stable but cyclical, with a forecast reduction to $2.64m by June 2026 due to delivery of the capital works program.
• Ministerial reporting requirements for Q1 were met in full, including all financial statements and planning updates.
• Debt remains high at $26.67m, with divestment of Bluebush Village identified as the most significant opportunity to restore long‑term financial sustainability.
• Workforce vacancies remain a strategic risk, with vacancy management supporting short‑term cash flow but not sustainable long‑term.
• Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework (IPRF) work is underway, including updates to the Strategic Community Plan, Corporate Business Plan, Asset Management Plan and Workforce Plan.
• Key governance reforms in progress, including training for councillors, culture pulse checks, improved risk management and better data integrity systems.

Quarter 2 Report (January to March 2026)

Due: 30 April 2026
Submitted: 30 April 2026 
Financial Report:  Quarter 2 Financial Report to Inspector (March 2026)

Cover Report: Quarter 2 Cover Report to Inspector (March 2026)

What this report covers:

• The Shire’s progress against Ministerial Expectations and Financial Recovery Plan requirements. [
• Financial performance as at 31 March 2026, including revenue, expenditure, cash flow, debt, reserves and liquidity. 
• Compliance with governance, planning and reporting milestones under the Ministerial oversight framework. 
• Performance against key financial sustainability indicators and Local Government Financial Indicator (LGFI) benchmarks. 
• Progress on major strategic initiatives including the proposed sale of Bluebush Village and implementation of the Long-Term Financial Plan and Asset Management Plan.
• Delivery of capital works, grant-funded projects and organisational reform initiatives. 
• Governance, workforce, risk management and compliance improvement activities aligned to the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework.
• Key risks requiring ongoing management, including liquidity, workforce capacity, capital project delivery and debt exposure.

Key Highlights:

• Achieved a significant turnaround from a $3.54 million deficit at the start of the year to an $8.37 million funding surplus at 31 March 2026.
• Recorded total comprehensive income of $10.39 million, exceeding budget expectations and demonstrating improved financial performance.
• Generated $30.7 million in operating revenue, finishing 7.2% ahead of budget, with strong results from fees and charges, grants and investment earnings.
• Improved liquidity substantially, with cash and cash equivalents increasing to $11.2 million, up more than $10 million on the previous year.
• Council resolved to sell Bluebush Village for $22.055 million, providing a pathway to significantly reduce debt, improve cash flow and strengthen long-term financial sustainability.
• Maintained disciplined expenditure management, with operating expenditure $970,000 (4.35%) below budget, supporting the Shire’s recovery efforts.
• Improved key financial sustainability measures, including a Current Ratio of 2.20, a strong Operating Surplus Ratio of 0.32, and a projected improvement in the Net Financial Liabilities Ratio.
• Successfully completed all Ministerial reporting requirements and adopted key planning documents, including the updated Long-Term Financial Plan and Asset Management Plan, strengthening governance and financial oversight.

Quarter 3 Report (April to June 2026)

• Due: 31 July 2026

  Submitted: 31 July 2026 
  Financial Report:  Quarter 3 Financial Report to Inspector (June 2026)

  Cover Report: Quarter 3 Cover Report to Inspector (June 2026)
  
  What this report covers:

  • The Shire's progress against Ministerial Expectations and the show cause notice requirements
  • Compliance with quarterly reporting obligations, including financial and governance reform milestones
  • The Shire's current financial position, including revenue, expenditure, cash flow, debt, reserves and funding positions
  • Progress on the Financial Recovery Plan (FRP), Long-Term Financial Plan (LTFP) and Asset Management Plan (AMP)
  • Performance against key financial sustainability indicators and Local Government Financial Indicators (LGFI) benchmarks
  • Status of major projects, capital works delivery and grant-funded programs
  • Key risks requiring ongoing management, including liquidity, workforce capability, capital program delivery and debt exposure.

  Key Highlights

  • Delivered a significant financial turnaround, improving the Shire’s funding position from a $3.54 million deficit to $318,830, a favourable movement of $3.23 million over the year.
    
  • Recorded a net result of $9.43 million for 2025/26, outperforming the amended budget.
    
  • Achieved operating revenue of $36.02 million, finishing $2.21 million (6.55%) above budget, with every revenue category exceeding forecast.
    
  • Maintained strong financial discipline, with operating expenditure $1.36 million (4.46%) below budget.
  • Successfully completed the sale of Bluebush Village and used the proceeds to repay all outstanding borrowings, reducing debt from $25.46 million to nil at 30 June 2026.
    
  • Increased cash-backed reserves from $257,825 to $690,354, exceeding reserve targets and strengthening long-term financial resilience.
  • Improved key financial sustainability measures, achieving benchmark performance in three of four financial ratios and reducing the Net Financial Liabilities Ratio from 1.13 to 0.13.
    
  • Lifted the Shire’s Local Government Financial Indicator (LGFI) score to 83, up from 27 in 2023/24, demonstrating a substantial recovery in overall financial health.

Quarter 4 Report (July to September 2026)

• Due: 31 October 2026

  Status: Pending