Quarterly report highlights internal cost-saving initiatives
Published on 27 August 2025
The fourth quarterly report for the 2024-25 financial year highlights the progress being made against Council’s Sustainable Financial Futures Plan with savings of $4.1 million due to cost cutting initiatives.
The financial plan sets out the goal of $10 million in savings over the next four years and has been updated to reflect how Council has now completed 40 out of 75 actions aimed to reduce costs and save money.
Director City Performance, Katie Buckman said she was pleased to see efficiencies being made by the organisation, in part thanks to the 3% Challenge initiative led by staff to achieve the savings target.
“This a great example of everyone working towards a shared goal to make council a more financially sustainable and fiscally responsible operation,” Ms Buckman said.
“Almost 400 ideas on how to cut costs or save money were submitted, which tells me that all our workers are engaged and are able to think outside the box when it comes to making the workplace more efficient,” she said.
There were 377 ideas raised by staff with 120 ideas implemented, included as an attachment to last night’s Council meeting.
Top cost-saving initiatives include:
- The reduction in leased premises producing a savings of $45,000 per annum, with further savings expected in early 2026.
- The reduction in Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre (SEC) season promotion expenditure saving $12,000 on the cost of the previous year’s event and brochure.
- The installation of in-house Internet of Things (IoT) devices on pressure sewer units. These IoT devices monitor residential pressure pump stations providing running and alarm status to permit support of system event status, failures and programmed response resulting in an annual saving for Shoalhaven Water of $34,000.
The initiatives complement the improvements being made through delivering recommendations from Council’s service review program and the strategies set out in the independent review by the AEC.
Also included in the quarterly report presented at last night’s meeting:
- Updated under-utilised plant and fleet sales figures, with $816,000 received for general fund and $67,600 received for Shoalhaven Water, to date.
- Combined sales of $11.3 million from 12 land parcels across the Shoalhaven for the 2024-25 year.
- Current focus on Bereavement Services and Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre service reviews.
The full report with progress against recommendations and actions can be found on Council’s website.