Dorset needs a new "playbook"
December 10, 2025
By Rachel Williams
DORSET COUNCIL General Manager John Marik has used this week’s organisational AGM to outline his desire for a hard-line approach to shore up the future of the municipality.
Without a “new playbook” to increase income, the region’s future sustainability would be in jeopardy, he said.
Council’s AGM was held on Monday, with the annual report being received and department directors outlining achievements from the last financial year.
Mr Marik’s personal contribution was to highlight his belief that Dorset had “an extremely bright future” but said it was through the lens of being an “optimistic realist”.
“I want to deliver a candid and honest assessment of where Council is today,” Mr Marik said.
“Council needs a new “playbook” – what might have worked in the past may not work in the future,” he said.
He stressed it was his personal opinion as General Manager and that any strategic changes in rating, fees, charges, and budgets must be adopted by Council on behalf of the community.
His comments will be food for thought for the Councillors sitting around the table who have another budget to deliver before the next round of local government elections next October.
Mr Marik said Council must get back into an operational surplus and highlighted the financial challenge facing the municipality.
Mr Marik said Council’s depreciation has increased from $3.16m pre-COVID in 2018/19 to $6.03m in 2025/26.
“Depreciation has been the key driver for Council’s budgeted underlying deficit of $1.68m in 2025/26. Council depreciation increased on average by 13.4% over the last 5 years, while Hobart CPI increased by 3.96%.
“If rates, fees, and charges rise only by CPI, Council income won’t keep up with demands,” he said.
“Rates on a typical house in Scottsdale are 15–30 per cent lower than most other Tasmanian councils,” he said
“From 2015 to 2021, Council did not increase any fees or charges.
“When I benchmark Dorset Council’s rate and charges income to similar-sized Councils with similar property values… Break O’Day had $2.18m more rate and charges income per annum than Dorset.
“Council facilities are free for community and sporting groups. Entry to municipal pools and the aquatic centre is free. Food licence fees and approvals are waived for local businesses, and Council have provided rebates to help small and growing businesses.
“Of course, none of this is truly free — these services are subsidised by the whole community – rather than the actual user paying for the use of community assets and services.
“I have repeatedly stated in the past, and even recently that Council is in a sound financial position. With low debt that could be paid off with Council’s current cash
levels, capital renewals covered in Council’s Long Term Financial Plan for the next 10 years that paints a positive picture. I reiterate this view, but Council must change the
model otherwise the compound growth trajectory of costs outpacing income may impact Council’s sustainability at worst, or impact future service delivery.”
Mr Marik has urged a review of the rating structure, service levels and all expenses and also recommended a pay per use for all facilities.
Those at the AGM unanimously passed a motion from the floor by Bridport’s Lawrence Archer, and modified by Gladstone’s Jackie Moore, for Council to undertake an assessment of unconstructed and insufficiently constructed streets across the municipality to formulate a strategy for their eventual upgrade.
“You have three streets that run between Bentley and Westwood St in Short St, Cross St and Alfred St and none have a footpath or any curb or channel where people will be walking down to the new pier,” Mr Archer said.
While Cr Beattie said he believed the assessment work had already been done in a recent road asset management plan, the motion was successful.