Cr Howard said an organisational restructure over the past few years had allowed the council to achieve a $1.6 million surplus in the 2014/15 financial year and $2 million for 2015/16.

He said a five-year capital works program would be developed prior to Christmas involving significant infrastructure investment in Bridport and Scottsdale. 

"It is investment that is long overdue in those towns, there’s some streets in Bridport and Scottdale that have substandard infrastructure.

“It is pleasing that council now has the financial ability to invest in infrastructure that will provide benefit to the community for generations,” he said. 

He said small business was supported through a policy which offers 100 per cent rate remission in the first year to new or expanding businesses, and 50 per cent in the second, as well as waiving planning and building fees.

To be eligible, new businesses shouldn't substantially compete with an existing businesses, while expanding businesses receive the reduced rate where a property is revalued as a result of major capital investment. 

He said he was surprised as to how important the policy was to small businesses. 

“I’ve been talking to a consortium that’s looking at a multimillion dollar dairy investment, and I thought remission of fees and a bit of rate assistance would be inconsequential, and they said: ‘no that’s very important to their investors’.”

Cr Howard said a couple of businesses were already showing interest in the council’s program, including a new pizza shop in Scottsdale, and several dairy farms.  

“In that first couple of years when you’re just trying to get up and get going and turn an idea into a profitable business, it makes a huge difference if you can save a few thousand a year.”

As part of its resource sharing platform, Cr Howard said the council was also considering employing an engineer over the next two months to assist with the capital works program. 

“That engineer would then be available for surrounding councils.”