Shell Cove Marina's millions put Shellharbour council's budget in the black

In the business papers for Tuesday night's Shellharbour Council meeting, councillors will consider the public exhibition of a number of future planning documents.

Read more: See photos from Anzac Day marches across the Illawarra

These include the delivery program, which outlines what council plans to do, and the draft budget for the coming financial year.

According to the papers, the preparation of the draft budget was "challenging".

"The continuing growth of the local government area, and the associated investment in new asset infrastructure, has resulted in annual increases in depreciation costs," the papers stated.

This included the acquisition of $86 million in assets from the Shell Cove project, for which council is now responsible, and the related depreciation estimated to be $1.2 million a year.

However, the marina has provided quite a boost to the budget's surplus, which sits at a little more than $20 million.

"This includes council's share of the Shell Cove project's profit forecast of $20.8 million," the business papers stated.

"Excluding the Shell Cove profit, Council is proposing to commence the year with a small operating performance deficit of $0.7 million."

Council plans to turn that deficit around in the coming financial year.

Unlike Wollongong and Kiama councils, Shellharbour isn't planning on asking to increase rates beyond the 0.7 per cent figure set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal.

"A review of the rates policy has been performed with no recommended changes being made," the council business papers stated.

This is despite the papers claiming the 0.7 per cent rate rise is not "a true reflection on current increases in local government costs".

The council meeting starts at 6.30pm on Tuesday.

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