Our draft 2026-2027 Annual Business Plan & Budget sets out our objectives, services and programs for the financial year and how we intend to fund them.

This year’s plan and budget has been guided by Council’s Strategic Plan 2030 which sets out a long-term vision for a healthy, safe, prosperous, connected, vibrant and liveable community.

The draft plan balances careful spending with strategic investments to make our City an even better place to live, support local jobs and businesses and build a stronger community, and incorporates a $33.2 million capital works budget.

To fund our priorities in 2026-2027 we are proposing a rate increase of 5.5% (excluding growth) – about an extra $2.24 a week for a median residential property.

Draft 2026-2027 Annual Business Plan (and Long Term Financial Plan)

Summary sheet - draft 2026-2027 Annual Business Plan

Following community consultation, Council will determine whether the direction and focus of these plans are appropriate, and to what extent the proposed initiatives and standards of service will be funded.

More than $6 million is planned to be invested in improving open spaces including upgrades of:

• Elliston Reserve (Highbury)
• Maxlay Reserve (Modbury Heights)
• Modbury Tennis Club courts (Ridgehaven)
• Playspaces at Marwick (Greenwith) and Hartog (Fairview Park) Reserves

The State Government will provide financial contributions to some of these projects.

New clubrooms for the Tea Tree Gully Sporting Club and the Tea Tree Gully Croquet Club are also planned, along with upgrades to the Waterworld Aquatic Centre.

A significant portion of the 2026-2027 capital works program is focused on transport and movement infrastructure. More than $6.4 million is allocated to renewing local roads across a wide range of suburbs to maintain safety and accessibility.

Targeted investment in key road corridors and city entry points is also planned, with works on Golden Grove Road (Greenwith) and Milne Road (Modbury Heights) to improve connectivity.

The Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) guides the financial sustainability of our activities over a 10-year period.

The current LTFP was adopted on 23 September 2025 following community consultation in May 2025. Since then, there have been significant changes to the economic landscape from a macro and micro perspective. The LFTP has been updated to include these changes.

During 2025-2026 the Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) reviewed the suitability and sustainability of Council’s Long Term Financial Plan and concluded that Council’s historical, current and forecast financial position to be sustainable based on prudent financial management, consistent operating surpluses and disciplined cost control. This has underpinned the revised LTFP.

The LTFP can be found in the draft 2026-2027 Annual Business Plan in Appendix C.

ESCOSA's Local Government Advice to the City of Tea Tree Gully can be found in Appendix A, along with Council's response to the advice (Appendix B).