Paul Antonio
June 24, 2016
Toowoomba Regional Council will raise rates by an average 3.24 per cent this year, and the majority of residential ratepayers will pay an extra $93 a year – about $1.78 a week – if they claim the discount.
Mayor Paul Antonio handed down the 2016-17 Budget on Friday.
The $487 million budget includes $64.6 million for roads, $44.2 million for water and waste projects and $16 million for parks and open space.
“At a time when funding from higher levels of government is increasingly difficult to obtain, this council has taken the bit by the teeth and improved efficiencies and developed ways to deliver ongoing value for money,” Cr Antonio said.
Major budget measures include:
- $50.5 million over four years for connections with Mort and Boundary streets in preparation for the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing
- $5 million to start concept and detailed design planning and start construction of a new works depot at Charlton
- $4.76 million for the redevelopment of the Toowoomba City Hall stage area
- $24.8 million for capital wastewater projects across the region, including $4.73 million for sewerage infrastructure at Meringandan West
- $3.5 million for further works on the Queens Park master plan implementation project
The council will also have a $196.71 million capital spend in 2016-17:
- $18.33 million on civic assets (buildings)
- $9.87 million on other assets
- $16.46 million on parks and recreation
- $15.12 million on plant and equipment
- $24.83 million on sewerage
- $955,000 on stormwater drainage
- $69.46 million on roads
- $22.2 million on waste management
- $19.36 on water
- $125,000 on regulated parking
Mayor Antonio said the council was focused on growing its rates base to help raise the millions of dollars required for roads, water, sewerage, drainage and social infrastructure the region will need in the future.
“The cost to deliver major infrastructure projects does not, however, belong to council alone,” he said.
“We will be continuing to take this message to all levels of government this year, as well as again seeking private investment opportunities.
“We owe it to our community to demonstrate leadership and advocate on their behalf.”
Over one third of the budget will be spent in Toowoomba City, while the rest will be distributed across different towns:
- Toowoomba $65.92 million (33.5 per cent)
- Clifton $1.78 million (0.9 per cent)
- Crows Nest $28.96 million (14.7 per cent)
- Goombungee $11.15 million (5.7 per cent)
- Greenmount $2.82 million (1.4 per cent)
- Millmerran $5.72 million (2.9 per cent)
- Oakey $37.76 million (19.2 per cent)
- Pittsworth $7.24 million (3.7 million)
- Region-wide initiatives $35.34 million (18 per cent)
Toowoomba is the eighth south-east Queensland council to hand down its 2016-17 budget.
The biggest average rate rise so far has been Gympie Regional Council, which will hit residents with a 5.1 per cent rise if they don’t pay their rates within the discount period.
It is followed by Brisbane City Council, which will deliver residents a 4.7 per cent rates rise in 2016-17.
Moreton Bay residents will have an average rates increase of 2.98 per cent and Sunshine Coast residents a 2.5 per cent rise.
Noosa – which already had some of the most expensive rates in south-east Queensland – will have an increase of 1.9 per cent, while Somerset and the Scenic Rim regional councils delivered a 2.5 per cent average rates rise on Thursday.
The lowest rates rise in south-east Queensland so far is Gold Coast City, which was an average 1.69 per cent.
The South Burnett Regional Council will hand down its 2016-17 Budget on Monday, June 27.
