{"id":113365,"date":"2015-07-07T23:12:58","date_gmt":"2015-07-07T13:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=113365"},"modified":"2020-11-23T12:33:23","modified_gmt":"2020-11-23T02:33:23","slug":"north-burnett-rates-rise-4-2pc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2015\/07\/07\/north-burnett-rates-rise-4-2pc\/","title":{"rendered":"North Burnett Rates Rise 4.2pc"},"content":{"rendered":"

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North Burnett Mayor Don Waugh (Photo: NBRC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>July 7, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

The North Burnett Regional Council brought down its 2015-2016 Budget today, handing down a 4.2 per cent general rate increase. <\/p>\n

Ratepayers will also pay a $536 water access charge; water consumption charges of $1.61 per kilolitre; sewerage charges of $526 for the first pedestal plus a $400 access charge; and a $250 annual charge for residential waste collection.<\/p>\n

The region’s road and bridge network, the Eidsvold Water Treatment Plant and a $13.2 million upgrade of the Mundubbera, Monto and Gayndah airports will be the major focus of capital works expenditure.<\/p>\n

North Burnett Mayor Don Waugh said his Council’s vision was to increase industry in the North Burnett, and he believed this could be done in the coming year.<\/p>\n

“A key to this vision is continuing to advocate with Government for improved infrastructure and services, such as telecommunications and roads. Council is advocating strongly for this,” he said.<\/p>\n

“The changes to the Federal Assistance Grant and the associated income loss are one the biggest challenges faced in the coming budget. <\/p>\n

“In this climate where grants and subsidies have been withdrawn by State and Federal Governments to Local Government, it is of great concern to Council to cover costs and maintain services.” <\/p>\n

Mayor Waugh said while his Council would still offer in-kind contributions to groups and organisations in the region who registered with the Council, cash grants would not be available.<\/p>\n

“It is a budget that is prudent given our circumstance, and importantly reflects responsible fiscal management while still delivering excellent outcomes across the board for our community.”<\/p>\n

The North Burnett is the last of the South Burnett’s five neighbour Councils to bring down its 2015-2016 Budget, and this year’s general rate rise is the highest in the cluster.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The next highest were Somerset (3.7 per cent), Toowoomba (3.0 per cent), South Burnett (2.75 per cent), Gympie (2.68 per cent) and Western Downs (2.5 per cent).<\/p>\n