The majority of Noosa property owners will face a rate rise of 5.5 per cent or about $90 a year coming in under the 7.4 per cent CPI rise, according to the draft Noosa Council 2023-24 Budget, released on Monday for a two week public consultation period.
Others face greater rate rises related to state government land valuations which increased an average of more than 62 per cent, some increasing more than 100 per cent but others receiving only a 0-10 per cent increase.
The net rate rise of 5.5 per cent comprises a 5.9 per cent general rate rise and 5.9 per cent waste levy with a freeze on the remaining levies on environment, sustainable transport and heritage.
Delivered at a Special Meeting by acting corporate services director Trent Grauf councillors heard the draft budget had been prepared with “a back to basics focus,“ with reference to the recently adopted corporate plan as well as taking into account feedback from the 2022 liveability survey, bi-annual community satisfaction survey and 2022/23 budget consultation process.
The meeting heard the budget had been extensively workshopped with councillors “with the primary consideration being to minimise, as much as possible, the impact to ratepayers, while also taking into account the inflationary pressures on the costs to council of continuing to deliver the same levels of service the community has come to expect“.
Mr Grauf said the challenge in calculating the rate lay in the distribution in land valuation increases with some much higher than others and in finding “the right balance between equity and reasonableness“.
The budget excludes the finalisation of special rates and special charges levied on ratepayers in areas of Noosa Junction, Noosa Waters and Hastings Street and council was negotiating through business associations with the outcome to be finalised in coming weeks, he said.
Mr Grauf said key cost changes to council included the 2023-34 election costs imposed by the Electoral Commission of Queensland, a new life guard contract for increased services and unprecedented economic conditions leading to inflationary pricing pressures impacting council in areas including fuel and logistics, construction materials, contracted services, the cost of wages as well as loan interest rate rises.
The $132 million budget will include $39 million in capital works with key ticket items including the replacement of the Lawnville Road bridge, the Garth Prowd bridge renewal, Eumundi Noosa Road Resource Recovery Centre expansion and Ross Crescent stabilisation works.
In addition to its capital works program key highlights of the draft budget include adopting a modest operating surplus and the development of projects including a Reconciliation Action Plan, affordable housing advocacy as well as transport, environment and waste recovery initiatives.
It promises increased investment in parks, trails and roads maintenance, continuation of the Go Noosa free weekend buses and Living Well Noosa program, progression of the Destination Management Plan and small business support with the implementation of the Small Business Friendly Council program.
Mayor Clare Stewart said more than 80 per cent of ratepayers would have an average increase below CPI.
“We know our residents are struggling with cost-of-living pressures and we’ve worked very hard in developing this draft budget to ensure that for 63 per cent of ratepayers on the minimum general rate, the rise in their annual rates bill will come in at 5.5 per cent, which is well below CPI,“ she said.
“It’s been a significant challenge to put together this budget in the face of a 7.4 per cent CPI increase, significant land valuation increases and the rising cost of doing business.
“We’ve worked really hard to mitigate the flow-through of land valuations, resulting in about 4000 property owners seeing a reduction in their rates compared to the previous year.“
Every eligible pensioner is now set to receive the full pensioner rebate of $115, where previously it was a sliding scale depending on eligibility.
“This is a cost of $80,000 to the budget, but it’s council’s commitment to helping out those more vulnerable in our shire,” the Mayor said.
Cr Stewart said running in tandem with the capital program would be the $80-million-plus Queensland Recovery Authority funded disaster recovery infrastructure program following last year’s floods, making it “a big year for construction“.
Community and environment groups are also in for a boost with an increase to council’s grants programs, she said.
Council’s draft 2023-24 budget is now open for feedback. Residents can review and have a say on the draft budget at yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au until 4 June, with the budget to be finalised and adopted by the end of June.
Residents can discuss the draft budget face to face with their councillors at a budget feedback session to be held next Monday 29 May from 10am to noon at Noosa Council, 9 Pelican Steet, Tewantin. To reserve a place, please email budget@noosa.qld.gov.au
