At a glance: the 2021-22 Brisbane City Council budget

The 2021-22 Brisbane City Council’s $3.6 billion “blue and green” budget arrives with a rates increase of 3.75 per cent, while debt per ratepayer rises $525 per ratepayer over the next three years.

Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner speaks at City Hall before handing down the council’s 2021-22 budget.Credit: Matt Dennien

Rates increase

3.75 per cent or $15.65 or quarter, or $1.20 a week.

Fees and charges

To increase an average 3.75 per cent.

Main points

Infrastructure budget is $1.2 billion, up from $912 million in 2020-21.

$3.1 billion in suburbs and $500 million in the CBD.

Kerbside collection will return in July, costing $7.4 million.

A new Brisbane Sustainability Agency has been announced to focus the work of the stalled $100 million Oxley Creek Transformation and existing environment planning teams.

Major projects

$218 million on the Brisbane Metro project, building the station at Cultural Centre and planning for the tunnel under Adelaide Street.

Brisbane Metro services will begin at the “end of 2023”.

Brisbane is seeking financial support from the Queensland government to put the Cultural Centre Metro station underground if Brisbane gets the 2032 Olympic Games.

$83 million to begin work on the upgrade of Victoria Park over four years; $15.9 million in 2021-22.

$215 million for neighbourhood parks including $221,000 for three new Ninja Warrior playgrounds.

$22.8 million for new ferry terminals at Howard Smith Wharves and South Bank.

$25.7 million for upgrades to city’s botanical gardens in the city and at Mt Coot-tha.

$8.3 million for two new CityCats.

$1.8 million towards $4 million renovation of three wooden-hull ferries.

The Norman Park Ferry service will not return.

$1.4 million for a new library at Everton Park.

A new CityGlider between Hamilton and Woolloongabba to be assessed by a business case.

Roads

$27.8 million for the new Indooroopilly roundabout on Moggill Road.

$23.9 million to upgrade Beams Road.

$15.8 million to upgrade the Gresham Street Bridge at Ashgrove.

$10.1 million to upgrade Newnham and Wecker roads.

$34.8 million for major intersections at Nundah, Darra and Wacol.

Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032

The council has borrowed $453 million of which $200 million could be used for buying land at Woolloongabba for the 2032 Summer Olympics. The location is confidential.

Business

50 per cent discount on footpath dining fees for new businesses.

Developers who design energy-efficient buildings are eligible for 50 per cent discount on some infrastructure charges after development is finalised.

Council debt

Brisbane City Council’s debt, spread over each ratepayer, jumps from $2032 per ratepayer to $2557 per ratepayer by the end of 2024-25.

This is an increase of $525 for each ratepayer over the next three years.

It drops to $1578 per ratepayer by 2030-31.

Brisbane City Council’s net debt rises from $2.6 billion in 2020-21 to $2.8 billion in 2021-22 and to $3.4 billion by the end of the 2024-24 financial year.