Budget bites with record $55m spend

HOME owners will feel hip pocket pain as rates and charges rise by about $100 in this year’s Council Budget, which has the region’s highest infrastructure spend in its history.

BIG SPENDERS: Fraser Coast Regional Council has voted for the region’s highest infrastructure spend to date. Picture: Brendan Bufi

HOME owners will feel hip pocket pain as rates and charges rise by about $100 in this year's Council Budget, which has the region's highest infrastructure spend in its history.

In a budget that Mayor Gerard O'Connell believes "strikes a balance". More than $55 million will be spent on infrastructure while the general rate rises by 2.5%.

But water, waste and sewerage charges will all rise to take the increase to about $104 for the average resident.

Last year's controversial infrastructure levy has remained at $75 and will be used for projects such as Beaver Rock Rd and rebuilding roads.

Cr O'Connell said this budget was an economically responsible one as costs rose for the council.

"As usual, costs have risen with insurance up by 10% and electricity increasing 15%- we are also expecting fuel costs to increase," he said.

"This budget strikes a good balance by investing responsibly in infrastructure, maintaining service levels and at the same time minimising the rate increase."

Despite describing it as a great budget, Cr Chris Loft, along with James Hansen, voted against it.

"It's unfortunate that because there is something glaringly obvious you disagree with, in this case the ($10 million allocated for the) sport precinct then you have to vote against the whole budget," Cr Loft said. "We should have the basics for our ratepayers, sewerage at Howard is a very necessary thing."

Fraser Coast Opportunities has been allocated $2.1 million and $5 million has been assigned for the region's airports.