May 31, 2013
South Burnett roads and bridges will continue to steadily deteriorate to the point where they become untrafficable if Council can’t raise extra money, Mayor Wayne Kratzmann has warned.
Because of this, the South Burnett Regional Council seems certain to introduce a Roads Levy when it hands down its 2013-14 Budget on July 3.
As foreshadowed in southburnett.com.au on May 10, the loss of more than $2 million in Federal and State road funding over the last year has rapidly pushed the Council into an unsustainable position.
“The cuts imposed on Council have been savage,” Mayor Kratzmann said yesterday.
“Despite reining in our expenditure, we cannot carry out our roads program with the funds that are available.
“It seems that like many other Councils we are now left with no choice but to introduce a roads levy.”
The Council is facing an estimated $9 million annual road maintenance bill but has only $6 million in its Budget to meet the cost of the work.
“Council is very aware of the pressure of living costs, so the amount we are considering is being held to the lowest level possible,” Mayor Kratzmann said.
“Cr Keith Campbell (Finance Portfolio chairman) and staff have been pouring over the Budget papers so that no stone is left unturned.
“They’ve worked hard to make savings where possible but at the end of the day you cannot get blood out of a stone.”
Local Government Minister David Crisafulli will be in the South Burnett on June 11, and during his visit the Council intends to raise the issue of State Government funding being inadequate to maintain essential services at a local level.
The South Burnett Regional Council’s 2013-14 Budget will be brought down on July 3.
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