Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie said community expectations were respected and economic realities faced in drafting the 2025-26 council budget, to be adopted on Monday.
“A Noosa residential homeowner on the minimum general rate will pay an extra $2.35 a week on their total rates notice, as part of a proposed 6.5 per cent increase to cover rising costs and maintain service levels,” he said.
Mayor Wilkie said minimising cost-of-living increases on households and delivering on the community desire for good services were key priorities.
“Local Governments have been hit hard by price increases for the materials, wages and services needed to deliver core business,” Cr Wilkie said.
“To minimise impacts on ratepayers, councillors and staff worked through 10 budget workshops and identified savings across all departments.
“Rates rises for most residential ratepayers were limited by lifting rates for Short-Term Accommodation (STA) properties.
“We kept both residential and STA rates in the dollar to levels that are still below that of others in the region.”
Cr Wilkie said annual increases allowed Council to build the infrastructure the community needed.
“We have found efficiencies across departments, but rising costs in electricity for street lighting, asphalt, wages, cement, steel and fuel have had a significant impact.”
Council will deliver a $52 million capital works program, with a focus on popular community facilities and waste management/resource recovery.
There has been $16 million set aside for roads, bridges and maintaining the transport network across the shire, including renewing Tewantin’s Doonella Bridge.
“There’s funds for the expansion of the Cooroy Sports Complex indoor facility, upgrades to the Noosa Aquatic Centre, more than $5.59 million allocated to road resealing projects and a host of upgrades and improvement to the playgrounds and park shelters that residents enjoy,” Cr Wilkie said.
“This budget aims to maintain quality services, cover rising costs, return a modest surplus so we can cover emergent shocks and ensure the shire’s financial sustainability.”
