Gladstone Regional Council will increase service charges by 4.9 percent next financial year. Residential rates will increase in line with CPI.

That’s the message in the 2021/22 Operational Plan and Budget with the theme titled ‘Collective Delivery’.

Building community capacity

The budget was focused on building community capacity and supporting economic development and growth, said Mayor Matt Burnett. 

“Last year, we made the strong decision to freeze rates and cover the cost of CPI for our ratepayers while we faced uncertain times,” Cr Burnett said. 

“Our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has been ongoing and has been spearheaded by a capital spend in necessary community infrastructure to make sure our community is supported by the infrastructure that it needs. 

“This budget will continue to fund capital projects at a total of $73.4 million, with pleasing support of both State and Federal Governments to the value of $16.7m. 

“This demonstrates the effectiveness of Council’s strategy to seek specific funding for our capital projects, so we can continue to improve our region’s infrastructure through external funding, not ratepayer dollars.” 

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Key capital projects to be funded this financial year include: 

• $2.0m – Sewerage Mains replacement to Gladstone Waste Water Treatment Plant 
• $1.4m – Bridge Replacements – Gorge Road and John Clifford Way near Lowmead 
• $1.12m – Benaraby Landfill Cell 2 capping 
• $1.0m – Toolooa Street Pavement and Footpath Renewal 
• $0.9m – For road improvements along Coast Road, Baffle Creek. 

These projects have funding from the State Government Works for Queensland program. 

Council would fund three key strategic activities to capitalise on the emerging energy sectors and ensure they continued to leverage the connection to the world through the Gladstone Port, Cr Burnett said. 

Holistic planning of road networks would help connect beef producers and support other transport initiatives such as the Melbourne to Gladstone Inland Rail, he said.

Funds have also been allocated to continue with three other key strategic projects – the design of the Boyne Tannum Aquatic Recreation Centre, the Gladstone Coal Exporters Sports Complex (Marley Brown Oval) and the Boyne-Burnett Inland Rail Trail. 

It had been necessary to increase service charges by 4.9 per cent this financial year in line with Council’s underlying costs have also increased, Cr Burnett said.  

“While the total average general rate will increase by CPI, the impact on each ratepayer will be different, depending on many factors, one of which is the land valuations issued by the Valuer General in March this year,” he said.