Noosa’s minimum general ratepayers will be charged an extra 5.1 per cent in their rates notices leaving them out of pocket by about $1.50 a week, after Council this week delivered its 2022-23 budget.
Mayor Clare Stewart described the budget as one of resilience, recovery and investment.
The record $160 million budget incorporates an operating expenditure budget of $118m and a capital expenditure budget of $42m which includes loan repayments of $1m.
Cr Stewart said balancing the budget had been “challenging” with the impacts of Covid still felt, rising living costs, slower supply of goods, inflation at its highest level in more than 20 years, state government re-valuation of land by about 30 per cent and a shire recovering from two major weather events.
“This budget has a renewed focus on rebuilding a strong foundation for the future, helping boost the economy while continuing to support our community through its post-pandemic recovery,” Cr Stewart said.
“We have endeavoured to provide some relief to cost-of-living pressures where we can and have listened to the community during our budget engagement process.“
Council made three changes to its budget in response to feedback received during the draft budget community consultation and Liveability survey which highlighted the importance residents place on the environment and lifestyle.
It has deferred short stay local law rental fees. It increased investment in the environment by boosting environmental grants by almost $100,000 and employing a new Bushcare officer. And it will boost funding for Tourism Noosa and Council’s Economic Development branch.
Cr Stewart said in response to feedback the budget adopted a $400,000 increased investment into environmental services bringing to $6m council’s total investment on environmental services which include protecting natural areas, zero emissions and climate change programs.
Community programs include $16.6m spent on operating community facilities and providing community development services including almost $1m on the community grants program and $88,000 to continue the popular living well Noosa program. In addition $150,000 has been allocated to undertake a future needs assessment on the Noosa Leisure Centre.
Traffic congestion was also a concern highlighted during consultation which Council has responded to with $520,000 set aside for congestion-busting traffic management initiatives and it will continue its free weekend bus trial.
There will also be an investigation into the upgrade or replacement of the jetty at Noosa Woods and its potential to increase river transport and decrease vehicle congestion into Hastings Street.
In its $42 million capital works program, council has set aside $17.8m for roads and transport including $5.3m for road resealing, of which $2.2m will go to resealing hinterland roads and $450,000 to improving gravel roads.
Hinterland bridge renewals will take $1.6m and $1.3m will be spent upgrading Federal’s Middle Creek Road with $2m going toward the Beckman’s Road upgrade.
“We have focussed more on our roads and infrastructure spend to ensure safety and keep our assets at a level the community expects,” Cr Stewart said.
“There has been an historical underspend on many roads, and we need to and are addressing that.”
Other key capital works projects include $640,000 for stormwater works, $4.6m to complete Noosa Parade, $1.2m for Noosa District Sports Complex, $400,000 to renew Peregian Skate Park, $1.5m to finalist the Firetech living laboratory at Peregian Digital Hub, $250,000 to investigate transit hub options at Noosa Civic and the hinterland and $1.1m to upgrade Noosa Hinterland Trail.
Another big ticket item in the budget is a $4.3m investment in the Eumundi-Noosa Road landfill cells with an additional $1m for operational waste management initiatives to increase diversion and recovery of waste from landfill.
“With the majority of council’s carbon emissions resulting from our landfill, we can, with the right strategy in place, the right initiatives undertaken turn this essential service into an opportunity to be innovative, forward thinking and proactive,“ Cr Stewart said.
The business community will also be supported in the budget with $125,000 directed at Economic Development, $455,000 for the operation of the Peregian Digital Hub and more than $2.6m for ongoing tourism promotion. In addition $125,000 has been committed to council’s economic development team to work with business groups and the Chamber of Commerce “to provide real, tangible and long term solutions to our business community“ with one strategy being the instigation of the Adopt a Worker campaign.
“This year, like the last two years, we have put a focus on delivering tangible outcomes for our community,“ Cr Stewart said. “Providing grassroots style projects that will make a difference to the lives of our residents. It’s all about recovery, resilience and investment into our shire, our economy, our environment, our tourism, our natural assets and most significantly you – our people.“
