Burdekin 2024/25 Budget: One per cent rate hike and clean water investments revealed

Burdekin residents will feel a slight hit to the hip pocket with a rates increase announced in the council’s latest 2024/25 budget. See what else is inside.

Burdekin residents will feel a slight hit to the hip pocket with a one per cent rate increase announced in the Burdekin Shire Council’s latest 2024/25 Budget.

Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort characterised the general rate increase as a “mindful approach” to the cost-of-living pressures faced by residents and local businesses.

“I have been asked on many occasions not to increase our rates,” the mayor said in her budget address.

“It is important to understand that it would be irresponsible of us to have a nil increase. “Council like any business and household has been impacted by cost increases which needed to be taken into consideration when developing the budget.”

She said while the general rate increases have been kept to the minimum, utility charges have had modest increases to reflect the cost to deliver these services to the community.

The budget includes $54.5 million for capital initiatives and $62.2 million for operational activities.

Key projects include $29.4 million in state funding for the South Ayr Filtration Plant and South Ayr Bores which will allow council to abandon the Nelsons Lagoon Borefield, which tested positive for PFAS, when complete.

The council budget outlines $29.4 million in state funding for the South Ayr Filtration Plant and South Ayr Bores to ensure clean water, addressing PFAS contamination in collaboration with state agencies.

This follows revelations of PFAS contamination in the Ayr and Brandon water supply, an issue the council has been working to fix for several years.

The council has been collaborating with state government agencies, including Queensland Health and the water regulator, to comply with Australian Drinking Water Guidelines since PFAS was first detected.

Roadworks, reseals, and drainage are getting a $16.4 million boost in the budget, while the Ayr Industrial Estate Development will see $3.2 million.

This long-awaited development is set to create over 200 jobs during its construction phase and will expand to offer 45 additional blocks of industrial land, with 23 lots to be released in the first phase.

The Jerona Causeway project will receive $2.9 million in state funding to improve connectivity. It comes after flooding in February caused severe damage, making the causeway unusable and requiring extensive repairs and load testing before reopening with restrictions.

Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort with the 2024/25 Budget. Picture: Supplied

Community parks are in for a $385,000 facelift, with Brandon’s Spiller Street Park in particular getting $190,000.

Cultural venues will see $352,000 in upgrades and renewals, the Ayr Pound upgrade is set for $125,000, and Clare Pool will dive into $75,000 worth of upgrades.

The landfill and transfer station upgrades will receive $230,000, while sewerage infrastructure upgrades will receive $1 million to keep essential services running smoothly.

See the full budget documents here.

Originally published as Burdekin 2024/25 Budget: One per cent rate hike and clean water investments revealed