July 14, 2025
South Burnett councillors are expected to adopt a 2.25 per cent rise for most property owners when councillors consider the 2025-26 Budget at Wednesday’s Special Meeting.
But it’s not all good news for ratepayers.
Some charges will be rising much more, including a 15 per cent rise in the waste management levy to $245 per property per annum.
Waste collection charges as well as water access and consumption charges are also proposed to rise by 6 per cent and sewage charges by 3 per cent.
However, the SBRC – unlike the North Burnett Regional Council – will maintain the early payment discount of 10 per cent if rates are paid within 30 days from the date of issue.
Pensioner discounts will also be maintained however the interest rate on overdue rates will rise from 8.17 per cent to 9 per cent (less than the 12.1 per cent which Council is allowed to charge).
There are 51 rating categories across the South Burnett, covering everything from rural residential blocks to shopping centres and wind farms.
For 2025-26, the SBRC has created a new category: Village – Bunya Mountains.
Each rating category has been allocated a “rate-in-the-dollar” amount which aims to compensate for State Government land revaluations, however because of valuation inconsistencies within categories, the Budget papers warn some property owners may find their rates could be rising significantly.
To minimise this impact, Council plans to average the rise in the rateable value of the land over three years.
The lowest rate-in-the-dollar amounts have been set for piggeries while the Meandu coal mine has the largest figure.
Wednesday’s meeting will also consider the adoption of Council’s Annual Operational Plan which describes how Council will advance its five-year 2025-30 Corporate Plan during the next financial year.
The proposed debt policy, which will also be considered, indicates Council does not intend to borrow anything during the current financial year but warns that loans of $20.3 million will be necessary over the next nine years, including $13.3 million for the mandatory Gordonbrook Dam Wall safety upgrade and $7 million for a new waste facility as the four current landfills are reaching approved capacity.
The first of these borrowings are proposed for the 2026-27 financial year.
