Bumper capital works spend for Rockhampton

Rockhampton Regional Council has announced a record $186.6 million capital works program in this year’s budget. Mayor Tony Williams said the legacy of this year’s record capital spend would be better services, more industry, and more people calling the region home. “We’re continuing work on the North Rockhampton Sewage Treatment Plant and the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant - two of the major catalyst projects announced last year," he said. “We’re also starting works on the Gracemere Sewage Treatment Plant and South Rockhampton Sewage Treatment Plant. Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams. “That’s nearly $50 million this year alone going directly toward renewing, augmenting and improving some of the most essential infrastructure in our region. “These projects will not only mean that we can continue providing critical services to our community, they’re also the key to unlocking a bigger and better Rockhampton, allowing us to service an additional 16,000 homes. “Before Christmas we are also planning to break ground on the Mount Morgan Pipeline, and $24.3 million this year will go toward work to deliver this vital lifeline." The 2022/23 Budget also brings an estimated total rate rise for the average Rockhampton ratepayer of 5.92 per cent, which Cr Williams said equated to an additional $4.16 per week. “This budget has had to deal with Financial Assistance Grants reducing by $6.8 million within three years, more than $5 million to continue carting water to Mount Morgan this financial year and land valuations jumping up 10.5 per cent overall and, in some cases like our rural areas, more than 59 per cent," Cr Williams said. “At the same time, we are facing the same cost of living pressures everyone is facing with rising fuel, power and insurance costs as well as increased material costs. “To offset some of those impacts, we have implemented a number of measures including reducing the rate-in-the-dollar across a number of categories, no new increases in the road and environment levies as well as finding $4.5 million in operational savings. “These savings are across the board and include items such as the closure of the SmartHub, reduced consultancies and savings in our Civil Ops section while still maintaining the service levels our community expects. “Where this leaves us is at a $3.6 million deficit but, after three years in the red, we are forecasting to be back in the black next year and post a small surplus. “For pensioners and concession card holders, we have maintained the subsidy at a maximum of $260 per year which, when combined with the State Government rebate, gives some of our most vulnerable a maximum of $460 a year off their rates bill. “A huge amount of work has gone into balancing the impact to ratepayers, maintaining service levels, finding savings and setting ourselves up to meet future financial shocks.”

Bumper capital works spend for Rockhampton

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