The CQ council set to benefit from controversial funding reforms
While most Central Queensland councils are fuming over changes to their grant money, one is set to benefit from the controversial changes.
Gladstone
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Most Central Queensland councils will have millions of dollars slashed from their budgets after a controversial decision from the Grants Commission, but one local government is set to benefit.
Banana Shire mayor Nev Ferrier has confirmed that his council is set to receive more funding as part of the changes.
“Council has received a modest increase in Federal Assistance Grants as a result of the methodology review,” Cr Ferrier said.
“The quantum of the increase has not been finalised at this stage but preliminary advice is that it is an increase of around 10 per cent.
“The increase reflects council’s unique circumstances and will in particular assist council in resourcing local facilities and services for the substantial nonresident population accessing facilities and services across the shire.”
Rockhampton Regional Council is set to suffer a $6.774m reduction in its funding, much to the dismay of mayor Tony Williams.
Gladstone Regional Council mayor Matt Burnett said his council would lose $1.03m from its grant, meaning the drop will be from $8.59m to $7.56m.
“This decision also affects many of our neighbouring councils and while I can’t speak on their behalf, I know they are just as unhappy as I am,” Cr Burnett said.
“The Local Government Association of Queensland has also sought a formal briefing from the Local Government Grants Commission and has invited their chair to attend the upcoming February 2022 Policy Executive meeting.
“While I acknowledge that the Commission’s role in reviewing the distribution of grants was made in a challenging environment, this decision will impact on Gladstone Regional Council’s budget.
“Like many of our neighbours, we have struggled in the face of disaster, pandemics, regional inflation and job shortages that have resulted in minor operating deficits over the past three years.
“This decision is an unacceptable outcome for our council, and I have respectfully asked the Commission to review the methodology and transparently show to all councils, as a collective, the results of their recommendations.”
Cr Burnett wrote his concerns to the Local Government Grants Commission on December 22, 2021.
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