Federation Ratepayers Incorporated

17/03/2026

📢Have Your Say – There’s Still Time!

Our community survey is still open, and we want to hear from you. This is your chance to share your thoughts on the future of our towns and the priorities you believe councillors should focus on.

Whether you have concerns, ideas for improvement, or positive feedback about what councillors are doing well, your input is important.

If you haven’t had the opportunity yet, please take a few minutes to complete the survey online here:
https://forms.gle/LDNrVFkiKUGKtXCT9

Hard copies of the community survey are available at the following locations:

• Amber Rose – Corowa
• Howlong Bakery – Howlong
• Hicks Butchery – Mulwala
• Oaklands General Store – Oaklands
• Urana Newsagency & Takeaway – Urana

Thank you to these local businesses for helping make the survey accessible to our community.

07/03/2026

📢 Extraordinary Council Meeting – Corowa Aerodrome ✈️

Federation Council is holding an Extraordinary Meeting at 9am on Tuesday 10 March at Corowa Council Chambers to consider a recommendation to begin the process of closing Corowa Aerodrome by 30 June 2029.
The report states the airport currently requires around $400,000 per year in council subsidy and could require millions in upgrades in coming years.
The aerodrome is used for recreational aviation, aviation events, and emergency services, and council’s own survey found strong community support for keeping it operating.

The meeting will determine whether council begins the process that could lead to the airport’s closure or explores other options.

🗓️ Tuesday 10 March – 9am
📍 Corowa Council Chambers

www.federationcouncil.nsw.gov.au/Council/Council-Meetings/Minutes-Agendas

06/03/2026

📢 We want your feedback on our local councillors.

👉 https://forms.gle/NpqvrrNBzdx7C3ek9

This is an important survey that we’d like all residents in Federation Council to participate in.

Before our committee developed the survey, I personally contacted all councillors. The majority were supportive, with some even providing suggestions on what areas could be included to help generate constructive feedback.

This is an opportunity for the community to provide honest input. We will also ensure both the community and councillors receive a summary of the results.

Accountability, action and attitude are all measurable — and when something is measurable, it becomes manageable.

Looking forward to your response.

Cheers
Phil
Chair, Federation Ratepayers Inc

28/02/2026

Help shape local leadership in the Federation Council area!
Federation Ratepayers Inc is inviting residents to complete a short survey on our local councillors.
Have your say here 👉 https://forms.gle/FgvYPhzXp5dExcgp9

15/12/2025

Federation Council will meet from 9.30am tomorrow at the Corowa Council Chambers, with the meeting open to the public and livestreamed. You can also catch the Public Forum from 9am.

👉https://www.federationcouncil.nsw.gov.au/Council/Council-Meetings/Minutes-Agendas

Some key items:

𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙑𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩
Council will receive an update on how funds raised through the Special Rate Variation have been spent to date and what remains outstanding.

2026/27 𝙊𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙩 – 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
Initial discussion on next year’s budget and operational plan begins, providing an early indication of future spending priorities.

𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: 72-𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙖, 𝙈𝙪𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙖
Council will determine a major marina proposal at the Mulwala Water Ski Club, with implications for lake use, infrastructure demand and ongoing maintenance responsibilities.

𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙃𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙡 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙝, 𝘾𝙤𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙖 – 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨
A report setting out legal options will be presented, indicating the matter has progressed beyond routine planning consideration.

𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙩 𝙇𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙊𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙮 – 𝙐𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙐𝙣𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙮 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙨
Council will consider whether to place a new enforcement policy on public exhibition, with potential implications for property owners.

𝘾𝙤𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚 – 𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
An updated Code of Meeting Practice is recommended for adoption to meet state requirements, including changes to meeting procedures, livestreaming and councillor attendance.

𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙪𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨
Reports will be received on water and sewer capital works, road projects, the Corowa aerodrome service review and planning for public open space.

17/11/2025

Some interesting items tucked into the council agenda ahead of tomorrow’s meeting in Urana- here’s what to watch.

𝗙𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲
Cr Rowena Black has put forward a Question With Notice on the potential reclassification of Federation Way. We’re pleased to see it finally getting airtime, and we’re keen to hear what direction Council is considering for such a critical route.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱
The 2024/25 audited financial statements are still not included for adoption in this meeting’s agenda. Given this is usually completed earlier in the year and with multiple finance & audit-related reports, including the Operational Performance Ratio, appearing in recent agendas.... residents may be wondering when the final statements will be presented.

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Council is releasing a full Planning & Development Service Review for public exhibition. After a year of steady concerns about application wait times, communication, and consistency, this one is worth reading closely.
And one key question remains: Why now? Was this triggered by workload pressures, repeated delays, community feedback, internal performance issues… or all of the above? The community deserves a clear explanation of what prompted the review and what’s expected to change.

𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴
Reflections Holiday Parks will brief Council on their plans for Ball Park management, redevelopment options, and the broader future of the site. The briefing is confidential, but it’s significant in a long-running issue many residents have wanted clarity on.

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹’𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁
The 2024/25 Annual Report is being tabled, laying out the year in black and white: what was delivered, what wasn’t, how the money was spent, and how Council is positioned heading into 2026. Always an insightful read.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀
Council will also present the 2025 survey results.

You can read the full agenda on Council’s website, or tune in tomorrow https://www.federationcouncil.nsw.gov.au/Council/Council-Meetings/Minutes-Agendas

27/10/2025

Did you catch last week's Federation Council meeting?

Some key points👇

🏕️ Ball Park Caravan Park, Corowa
Council voted to pause the Expressions of Interest process for Ball Park’s long-term management and redevelopment.
Reflections Holiday Parks will now present options to Council by 16 December, before any final decision is made.

🏫 Savernake Public School
Council did not support the Department of Education’s proposal to permanently close the school.
It will run its own community consultation and ask local MP Justin Clancy to back keeping the school in recess rather than closing it for good.

🌳 Howlong Memorial Park
The draft master plan for Howlong Memorial Park and Cross Street Reserve will go on public exhibition for 28 days — locals can review and have their say.

🏡 Oaklands Town Improvement Committee
After many years of volunteer service, the committee has been disbanded.
Remaining funds ($18,750) will be kept for future Oaklands projects, with community consultation on how best to use them.

🐟 National Carp Control Plan
Council backed the Murray Darling Association’s push for the Federal Government to fund and implement the Carp Control Plan to help restore local waterways.

💰 Financial Snapshot
Council’s finances show over $23 million in carry-forward and revote reserves, including around $12 million in flood recovery funding.
Ratepayers may want to keep an eye on how and when those projects are delivered.

🗣️ Community Feedback
During the Public Forum, a community member addressed Council, expressing dissatisfaction with Council’s communication and responsiveness over the past five years.
Council noted the comments but did not discuss them further in the open meeting.

📑 Other Updates

Council endorsed a submission on the Billabong Floodplain Management Plan 2026.

Confirmed the 2026 Council meeting schedule (third Tuesday of each month).

A proposal from Cr Schoen for a public register of refused document requests (under the GIPA Act) was withdrawn after internal discussion — unclear if it will return.

Council noted its Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee report for 2024–25, but no details were shared in open session.

16/05/2025

Federation Council SRV 69.94% Rate increase granted in full by our independent regulator, IPART!!
An interesting result!
The following is dialogue taken directly from IPART’s final report handed down today.

“We received 537 responses relating to Federation Council's application. Of these, 435 respondents (81.0%) were opposed to the proposed SV, 60 respondents (11.2%) partly supported it, 3 (0.5%) were undecided and 39 respondents (7.3%) supported it.”

“With the approved SV, we found the council's average residential and business rates for the next 2 years are within the range of comparable councils. However, we found that the council's average farmland rates are above the range of comparable councils.”

“We received 537 responses. Most of the responses disagreed or strongly disagreed that the rates increase was affordable. A similar proportion did not agree that the application considers financial constraints of ratepayers, considers different options to reduce the financial impact on ratepayers, or balances the community's need for services and its impact on ratepayers.”

We’ll be interested in your thoughts???

For us now, stay tuned!
“Federation Ratepayers Incorporated - A ratepayer advocate group striving to achieve a well managed, transparent Federation Council that our community can be proud of”

13/05/2025

IPART have informed us today that they will be handing down their decision this Friday the 16th of May regarding Federation Councils Special Rate Variation application.
IPART report that they have had strong engagement from the community recieving around 130 submissions & 535 survey responses - great effort Federation community, your input has been sincerely appreciated.
So now the wait is almost over - we look forward to the independent tribunal’s decision.

03/05/2025