June 30, 2021
Gympie Regional Council ratepayers will face a 3.2 per cent rise in their rates bills after the Council handed down its $157.66 million 2021-22 Budget on Wednesday.
Charges for water and waste collection will also rise marginally over the coming year, while sewerage charges will increase by 3.35 per cent.
The changes mean that in general, almost 70 per cent of Gympie Regional Council ratepayers will face an increase of between $25 and $75 a year.
However, the discount for early rates payments has been halved from 10 per cent to 5 per cent, but this year it will apply to the entire rates notice, including special levies.
Council will maintain its $160 pensioner discount and will make $360,000 available through its community grants program, with $175,000 provided specifically to environmental community groups.
Council will also invest $40.7 million in capital works.
For Goomeri and Kilkivan residents, the most significant projects over the coming year include:
- Kilkivan Library – $150,000 to move the library to the Kilkivan office chambers
- KKRT Rail Trail – $173,352 for trail improvements
- Goomeri Hall Of Memory – $80,000 for electrical system, painting and exterior works
- Goomeri Pool – $75,000 to replace plant filtration system
- Goomeri Water Treatment Plant – $120,000 to upgrade plant
- Goomeri Sewage Treatment Plant – $159,000 to complete tank repairs
Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig said Council would not be investing in any major new infrastructure projects during 2021-22.
Instead, Councillors would continue to work on finding cost savings through a “back-to-basics” approach.
He said he was hopeful the Budget would return the Council to a $60,000 surplus by the end of the financial year.
Gympie Regional Council’s 2021-22 Budget can be found on the GRC’s website
