Council says financial turnaround will be slow

Upper Hunter Shire Council said they are doing all they can to improve the budget bottom line for ratepayers.

The council advised the Office of Local Government they don’t expect to be back in the black until 2032 due to a lot of debt and facilities such as the Scone Airport, Hunter Warbirds Museum and Scone Saleyards all leaking millions of dollars a year after major capital expenditure in recent years.

The answer was in response to a community petition calling for the council to be sacked and an administrator appointed.

But Mayor Maurice Collison said the turnaround will be a slow process.