Liverpool City Council has released a draft budget that plans for a healthy surplus with no staff cuts, improved services, and a massive capital works program.

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun said the Council is setting a clear roadmap for investment, growth, and service delivery across one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities.

“Our priority is to ease cost-of-living pressures wherever we can,” Mayor Mannoun said.

“We recognise that, like households across our community, Council’s budget is under strain. That is why we are managing it with discipline and care, ensuring it remains strong while honouring the commitments we have made to keep the budget in good shape.

“Notwithstanding the challenges, we continue to enhance the services we deliver, doing so responsibly and within our means.”

“Number one, the budget for a surplus of $1,239,360 million. Given that we are on track to reach our budgeted surplus of $800,000 this financial year, we are on track for two consecutive positive years of operation.

“Now that includes no staff cuts and no cuts to events and includes record spending on capital works,” he said.

For 2026–2027, Council is delivering an operating budget of $303 million and a capital works program of $244 million, ensuring continued investment in essential infrastructure, community facilities and frontline services.”

The capital works program includes major projects such as the $44.3 million Brickmakers Creek revitalisation, the $57.7 million Carnes Hill Aquatic and Recreation Centre, city centre streetscape upgrades and critical flood mitigation works.

Mayor Mannoun highlighted the program is strongly supported by external funding, with $188 million in capital grants and contributions helping reduce pressure on ratepayers.

Council will also continue to deliver strong service outcomes, with more than one million annual visits to its libraries, leisure centres and cultural venues, alongside high-performing early childhood, waste, and maintenance services.

Mayor Mannoun said the plans reflect Liverpool’s unique identity and future ambitions.

“What makes Liverpool special is the strength and diversity of our people,” he said.

“This is not simply a plan, it is a commitment to deliver on what our community expects of us as their local government as we build a stronger, more connected Liverpool, together.”

Mayor Mannoun said the proposed measures focus on practical improvements residents will notice day to day.

“The inaccurate prediction of 140 job losses was just that: inaccurate,” Mayor Mannoun said.

“We know households are under pressure from rising living costs, and Council has a responsibility to keep rates as low as possible while carefully managing spending and continuing to deliver the services residents expect in a growing city.”

Initiatives to be considered include:

• Employee costs of $114,948,671, representing a 7.6 per cent increase from 2025/26 with no staff cuts.
• Allocating $650,000 from the General Reserve to begin implementing a neighbourhood model (The Neighbourhood Response Network) focused on compliance and local presentation.
• Providing an additional $675,000 to Parks to support enhanced services such as lawn mowing during peak periods.
• Increasing household clean‑up services from two to four collections per year, with a maximum two‑week service period, subject to community agreement.
• Lowering the eligibility threshold for a red bin upgrade from six to five household members.
• Filling 26 vacancies within the Operations Directorate.

“These are the services that shape how people experience their city,” Mayor Mannoun said.

“Whether it’s cleaner streets, better maintained parks, improved waste services or stronger local compliance, Council is focused on delivering the basics well and ensuring Liverpool continues to grow as a clean, safe and liveable city.”

Detailed financial and operational modelling is now underway, and Council will continue to keep the community informed as the proposals progress.

Residents are invited to view and provide feedback on the draft Operational Plan and Budget from 19 May 2026 to 15 June 2026 at Council’s libraries or online at www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au.

2026 Budget Backgrounder

Spending on the City

The draft Budget includes $244 million in capital works, with significant investment in roads, bridges and footpaths ($77.3 million), buildings ($24.5 million), and drainage and floodplain infrastructure ($46.2 million) and parks and recreation ($35 million) and a $53 million land acquisition program so we can keep rolling out the infrastructure in the growth areas.

“This capital investment delivers both upgrades to facilities and the new projects needed in our growth areas,” Mayor Mannoun said.

“Council is spending around $1million a working day to deliver the facilities our community needs,” he said.

At a community level, Council continues to improve access to local sport and recreation, with upgrades and new facilities planned such as the Carnes Hill Aquatic Centre, Lighthorse Park Community Centre, play area and open space construction, a sports park upgrade at Scott Memorial Park, and sporting fields at Carnes Hill.

Neighbourhood Response Network (NRN)

Council is launching a bold new way to get things done faster and closer to home: the Neighbourhood Response Network. This innovative model places three dedicated Neighbourhood Response Officers at the heart of our communities, coordinating requests through the Customer Service Hub and ensuring every issue is triaged with a consistent, transparent prioritisation framework.

Urgent or high‑risk matters are escalated immediately to keep our neighbourhoods safe, while routine requests are resolved within Council’s 30‑day service standard. More complex issues receive active monitoring, with customers kept informed every step of the way.

By maintaining end‑to‑end oversight across areas from Chipping Norton and Moorebank to Lurnea, Prestons, Cecil Hills and Austral, officers will spot trends early and direct resources where they’re needed most. Backed by a $650,000 investment, the NRN strengthens Council’s ability to respond locally and stay closely connected to the unique needs of every community.

Major projects include

• $44.3 million for Brickmakers Creek at Liverpool. Including passive and active green space, creek naturalisation works and play equipment like a flying fox, outdoor gym equipment, and cultural walk.
• $11.8 million for works at the intersection of the Hume Highway and Governor Macquarie Drive in Liverpool
• $13 million for a new community facility at Edmondson Park
• $4.3 million towards local park upgrades
• $3.9 million towards the Carnes Hill outdoor sports complex
• $15 million towards Lighthorse Park
• $400k towards the upgrade of Ernie Emith Reserve
• $20.1 million to upgrade Edmondson Ave in Austral
• $22.5 million for a flood detention basin in Austral and $18.4m for a flood detention basin at Edmondson Park

Economic Development highlights

• Partnering with the Liverpool Innovation Precinct to deliver the LIP masterplan
• Collaborate with the Bradfield Development Authority to attract investment to Bradfield and support innovation and investment outcomes.
• Implement the Liverpool small business strategy.
• $400k to market Liverpool internationally and attract global investment to Liverpool.
• $400k to create a special entertainment precinct to stimulate the night time economy and support increased live music, cultural events in the Liverpool city centre.

Liverpool City Fast Facts

• Liverpool has a population of 226,000 people and is expected to exceed 353,000 by 2046.
• The average age is 34, 50 per cent of the residents are under 35 and more than 54 per cent of them speak a language other than English at home.
• It covers 306 square kilometres, of which one third is greenspace with more than 500 open space reserves and 217 sports fields, ovals and courts.
• Our growing $19 billion Gross Regional Product is larger than 56 nations’ Gross Domestic Products.
• There are more than 30,000 registered businesses, supporting over 114,500 local jobs.
• Transport, Postal and Warehousing is the largest industry, worth $2.3 billion annually.
• Its people live in 42 suburbs, speak 150 languages and come from 115+ countries.
• There are 991km of roads, 945 km of footpaths and cycleways, 817 km of piped drains and 1,229 parks, reserves, sports fields and open spaces.