Corporate services executive manager Graeme Tolhurst said council would decide how to spend the money during the city’s quarterly budget review early next year.

“The Statewide Mutual board of management provided Maitland City Council with $61,789.90 including GST,” Mr Tolhurst said. “This represents council’s share of over $7.6 million being distributed back to members after consideration of the Statewide Mutual 2013/14 financial year results.”

The company, a major insurance provider for councils, announced it would give the money back to communities at this week’s Local Government NSW Annual Conference in Coffs Harbour.

The money was a reward for the overall risk management diligence and good claims results of the state’s councils this year, according to a Statewide Mutual statement released this week.

The statement noted that the company had accumulated a considerable chest of money to protect its members and still generated excess funds that could be returned to councils.

“The strength of the re-insurance program and successful claims results allows Statewide Mutual to disperse excess reserves back to the members for use in their communities,” it said.

Although council has not yet decided how to spend the money, Maitland City’s Delivery Program 2013-17, gives an indication of how far $60,000 could go.  

In 2014-15, council earmarked $50,000 to refurbish council-owned buildings across the city, another $50,000 to revamp recreation buildings and $50,000 to find savings in water and electricity costs.

More expensive capital works projects included Maitland Park netball amenities ($100,000), installing disabled toilets at Maitland Town Hall and at Rutherford ($150,000 each) and building a new general amenities building at Maitland Park ($1 million).