Building Financial Sustainability and Service Alignment
Results Snapshot
Client: City of Greater Geelong
Location: Victoria
Sector: Local Government
Year: 2014
Solution: Strategic Service Planning
- $83M in identified one-off asset divestment opportunities
- $9.1M in recurrent annual savings from service realignment
- Long-Term Financial Plan rebuilt for a 10-year outlook
- Service Planning Framework embedded organisation-wide
- Improved procurement, budgeting, and asset planning processes
Overview
The City of Greater Geelong engaged CT Management Group to review its operations and financial sustainability, aiming to strengthen long-term performance while maintaining affordability for ratepayers. Facing emerging challenges such as superannuation shortfalls, funding reductions, increased service demand, and asset growth, Council required a comprehensive review to ensure resources, efficiencies, and services were sustainable into the future.
The Challenge
Council faced several structural and fiscal challenges impacting its medium and long-term financial outlook:
- Managing increasing service demand and operational costs within constrained revenue growth.
- Addressing superannuation shortfalls and reduced grant funding.
- Balancing service levels and infrastructure investment with long-term affordability.
- Ensuring procurement, budgeting, and asset management processes delivered value and accountability.
To maintain a strong financial position, Council sought independent advice on how to realign operations, streamline services, and strengthen its long-term planning capability.
Our Solution
CT Management Group conducted a whole-of-organisation sustainability and service review supported by extensive consultation with the Mayor, Councillors, CEO, and senior leadership team.
The project included:
- A Savings and Efficiencies Assessment through detailed interviews and analysis.
- A Functional Span Mapping process to review services and functions across all departments.
- Procurement and budget process reviews to identify improvement opportunities.
- Reconstruction of the Long-Term Financial Plan (LTFP) and Capital Works Program.
- Review of asset management, project planning, and service planning frameworks.
The review identified opportunities for resource optimisation, underutilised assets, and non-core services, resulting in a data-driven roadmap for efficiency and sustainability.
The Outcomes
CT Management Group delivered tangible outcomes that strengthened the City of Greater Geelong’s financial and organisational performance:
- $83 million in potential one-off asset divestments identified.
- $9.1 million in recurrent annual savings from service realignment and efficiency initiatives.
- Comprehensive service catalogue with financial and operational performance metrics.
- A reconstructed 10-year Long-Term Financial Plan and improved capital prioritisation.
- Foundation established for an organisation-wide Service Planning Framework integrating service, asset, and financial strategies.
These outcomes enabled Council to plan with greater confidence, ensuring sustainable service delivery and informed decision-making.
Testimonial
“CT Management Group’s Sustainability Review gave us clear visibility over our services, resources, and long-term financial position. Their evidence-based approach provided practical solutions that continue to guide our planning and efficiency programs.”
— Executive Director, City of Greater Geelong