Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's 2021-2022 draft Operational Plan was developed before the natural disaster hit the region.

The recently adopted plan, which includes individual projects and actions across the 2021-2022 financial year, contains some amendments due to the floods.

The council is still taking stock of the extent of the damage, but to date, costs from the natural disaster have risen above $10 million.

The current assessments of future restoration works indicate these costs would be upwards of $70 million, a council report said.

High-level action points addressing the restoration projects have been included in the 2021-2022 Operational Plan.

As assessments are refined and specific costs and timing in relation to each project become clearer, the council report said, these will be added to the operational plan and reported to the council during the year.

The council adopted the 2021-2022 Operational Plan at its June meeting. The capital works program totals $67.6 million.

Capital works projects in the Port Macquarie area include almost $6.4 million for the Gordon Street upgrade, $937,000 to continue the Westport Park boat ramp parking upgrade, $3.1 million for the Thrumster recycled water interim supply, while $748,215 will go to the continuation of the strategic concept and business case development for a new aquatic centre.

The Wauchope area has its share of projects too. They range from King Creek bridge upgrade ($543,000) to Bago Road resurfacing ($200,000), design and construction of the Pappinbarra bridge replacement ($2.8 million) and the upgrade of Donkins Flat Bridge at Comboyne ($540,000).

There is funding for the detailed design of the Bain Park revitalisation among scores of other parks and recreation projects.

Projects in the Camden Haven include the Kew main street upgrade ($1.2 million), Kendall Tennis Club upgrade ($150,000), Lake Cathie Community Reserve basketball court ($70,000), the start of detailed designs and approvals for Lorne Road sealing ($250,000) and Rainbow Beach sports fields ($3.3 million).

They are a snapshot of the projects in the budget.

Cr Rob Turner spoke about the impact of the flood devastation.

He said as a result, probably people would be disappointed some items were no longer in the budget or they were no longer funded to the amount that people were hoping or expecting.

Cr Turner said the council had to change direction slightly, to not only cover the cost of flood reparations, but to build back better in some cases.

The council noted the 2021-2022 position of a balanced budget.

Cr Sharon Griffiths said this was one of the first years in quite a long time with a balanced budget position at the beginning and not trying to claw back all the way through the year to find savings.

Deputy mayor Lisa Intemann commended the Integrated Planning and Reporting suite of documents to the community as a tool to get a better understanding of the council.

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