The average residential ratepayer faces a 5.5 per cent increase on their rates notice, some will face much higher increases and about 4000 property owners will see a drop in their rates, after Noosa Council 2023-24 budget was handed down at a special meeting last Friday.
Council’s budget of $171.7 million is comprised of an operating budget of $132.3 million and a capital expenditure budget of $39.4 million.
Rate increases for the majority of property owners will be comprised of a rate increase by $71.80 (5.9 per cent), a $21.30 (5.9 per cent) increase in the waste collection charge, and no increase in the existing environment levy, heritage levy and sustainable transport levy, equating to an overall 5.5 per cent increase. Nearly 5000 pensioners have been given a helping hand by consolidating the pensioner rebates, with all eligible pensioners now receive the full rebate of $230 per year, whether they are single or a couple.
Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart says the 2023-24 budget gets the balance right by putting residents first while maintaining fundamental services to the community.
“It’s been the toughest budget faced by this council as we continue to deliver an $80 million flood recovery program, deal with inflationary pressures and massive land valuation increases for the second successive year,” she said.
“We have taken a sensible approach to our spending, for most property owners rates increases are below CPI while dealing with the increasing costs of building new infrastructure and maintaining services.
“We have worked extremely hard to mitigate the extraordinary land valuation increases – which averaged a 62.5 per cent increase across the shire – as well as ease the burden on ratepayers as much as possible.”
Cr Stewart said Council wasn’t immune to the current inflationary conditions, construction costs, which had risen by as much as 30 per cent, and rising utility charges.
“Like all households and businesses, we also deal with these rising costs and this budget represents responsible decision making in extremely challenging economic times,” she said.
Council’s budget of $171.7 million is comprised of an operating budget of $132.3 million and a capital expenditure budget of $39.4 million.
Council’s 2023/24 operating budget includes revenue of $132.4 million and expenditure of $132.3 million required to fund and deliver day to day operations according to current levels of service, with a $121,000 surplus.
It’s operating revenue comes mostly from rates and utility charges totalling $89.3 million, fees and charges (from planning applications and parking and infringement fines) of $11.4 million, sales (from holiday parks, community facilities like Leisure Centre, The J), of $13.9, commercial property rentals of $1.7 million and interest on investments and overdue rates of $2.8 million.
Council’s operating expenditure consists of $49.4 million employee costs, $59.9 million for materials and services to deliver community services including parks and beaches maintenance ($9.3m), environmental management ($3.2m) and waste management ($15.3m) and an asset depreciation of $21.3 million.
Council’s capital works budget of $39.4 million includes $28.6 million to renew existing infrastructure, $9.7 million for new and upgrade works and $1.2 million allocated to repay existing debt. Council intends to sustainably fund the capital plan via a mix of grants and external funds ($8.7 million), new borrowings ($3.1 million) and cash ($27.6 million).
A number of significant value projects are proposed to be included in the 2023/24 financial year including increased investment in the shire wide road reseal and patching program, the completion of the Ross Crescent slope stabilisation project, Eumundi Road Landfill cell expansion and capping as well as the replacement of a number of bridges as part of the Australian Government Bridge Renewal Program.
Road spending includes $2.9 million to replace Garth Prowd Bridge at Noosa Heads, $2 million to replace Black Mountain’s Lawnville Road Bridge and $860,000 for the commencement of renewal work for Tewantin’s Doonella Bridge.
There’s $4.3 million for the shire-wide road reseal program and $475,000 to continue the shire-wide gravel road resheeting program and a $496,000 spend to build missing links in the hinterland pathway network.
In addition to this Council will undertake more than $80 million in disaster projects resulting from the February 2022 flood event which will be fully funded by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
Cr Stewart said the budget also responded to the newly adopted Corporate Plan, delivering on key initiatives such as progressing the Destination Management Plan, starting the Reconciliation Action Plan and continuing to advocate and secure funding partnerships to implement the Housing Action Plan.
“We have put our residents first and this budget strikes a balance between investing in our future and living within our means,” Cr Stewart said.
