This was published 6 years ago
Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk refuses to rule out rate rise
By Ruth McCosker
Lord mayor Graham Quirk has refused to rule out a rate rise for Brisbane residents while spruiking his first announcement for the 2018-19 budget.
On Tuesday Cr Quirk announced Brisbane City Council would invest almost $23 million in pool upgrades over the next year, about $5.5 million more than was committed the year earlier.
There will be an $8 million upgrade to Langlands Park Memorial Pool.Credit: Brisbane City Council
Cr Quirk would not reveal how the extra money would be covered, and, asked twice, refused to rule out the extra spend being passed onto residents by way of a rate rise.
“I think what people are seeing is great improvements to the pools and they say it’s an increased investment on where we were last year,” he said.
“So in terms of the budget itself, that will come down two weeks tomorrow and it will be revealed then.”
In the 2017-18 budget residents were hit with an average rates rise of 2.4 per cent, while in 2016-17 the average rate rise was 4.7 per cent.
Langlands Park Memorial Pool opened in 1959 and has never had an upgrade.Credit: Brisbane City Council
The council’s 2018-19 $23 million commitment to pools would allow for an $8 million upgrade to Langlands Memorial Park Pool, upgrades to Sandgate and South Brisbane aquatic centres and new children’s aqua parks at Keperra Picnic Grounds and Runcorn Pool.
Langlands Memorial Park Pool lessee Jan Arndt said she had been running the pool for 11 years, but felt an affinity with the pool after swimming there as a child.
“I am very grateful that the lord mayor has made way for this grant to be approved so we can actually now look after the people that much better, especially our disabled customers,” she said.
Ms Arndt said she had been working on the new design for the pool for about five years and would invest $1.3 million out of her own pocket towards the upgrade.
The pool opened in 1959 and has never had an upgrade.
The council’s 2018-19 budget was due to be handed down on June 13.
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