Glenwood ratepayers angered by Fraser Coast Council rates hike

The Fraser Coast council has defended its 4.9 per cent rate rise after coming under fire from residents of a community on its outer outskirts who say their money is paying to spruce up a city 80km away while they don’t have basic safety, lighting and community infrastructure.

Glenwood resident Debra Clark has expressed frustration over the Fraser Coast Regional Council's latest rates hike, saying money paid by the township at the border of the Gympie and Fraser Coast local government areas is largely going to fund major projects 80km in Hervey Bay.

Fraser Coast Regional Council has defended its 2023-24 budget in the face of criticism from Glenwood residents, who say they are being slugged with a rate rise they will get little benefit from.

Some residents took to social media the day after the council revealed the region’s general rates would rise 4.9 per cent for the 2023-24 financial year.

Including price rises in waste collection and water charges, the average bill across the region would rise by about $230 a year.

Debra Clark was among those frustrated, saying the increase for Glenwood residents, who live on the border of the Fraser Coast and Gympie local government areas, and 50km south of Maryborough, was “to fund millions of dollars being spent in Hervey Bay (on projects)”.

The comment drew almost 100 responses on social media in less than a day, with many criticising the condition of roads in the area and a lack of street lighting and footpaths.

Debra Clark said Glenwood was now the third largest residential area of the Fraser Coast.

Mrs Clark said she was driven to make her comments due to ongoing frustration at the lack of funding being directed to Glenwood, which she said was now the third largest residential hub in the Fraser Coast.

The population now included about 1000 children, but there was “absolutely nothing for them” in the area, she said.

The condition of Arborten Rd, the community’s main arterial off the Bruce Hwy, was a major issue too.

Mrs Clark said there were no street lights or warning signs when the road flooded, it was a serious safety risk and considered to be a “goat track”.

Councillor Phil Truscott, whose division encompasses Glenwood, said there were many facilities lacking in the area which “just evolved and was never planned”.

The big win for Glenwood in this year’s budget was the creation of a masterplan, “which has never been done before” for the township, he said.

Mr Truscott said he hoped the plan would include “a new children’s playground, walking track, community garden, basketball hoop, (and) cricket pitch”.

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Fraser Coast councillor Phil Truscott, whose division includes Glenwood, said this year’s Fraser Caost council budget included funding for a masterplan for the town, which will guide its development in the coming years.

A new community hall was on the wishlist as well.

“All these ideas will be thrashed out in the community consultation starting next week,” Mr Truscott said.

“Maybe the community will come up with better ideas than me.”

A council spokesman said the budget had been “challenging” due to rising costs and dwindling government grant support.

“Properties with the same use and valuation will pay the same general rates wherever they are located on the Fraser Coast,” the spokesman said.

“It is important to remember that many residents in non-urban areas pay about half of what residents in urban areas pay in total rates, primarily because they don’t receive water and wastewater services.”

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Maintaining and improving roads across the whole region, and the employment of rangers and biosecurity officers were among the services rates paid for.

“We also have many facilities like the Brolga Theatre in Maryborough, which residents right across the Fraser Coast attend, while many Glenwood residents would also make use of the Bauple waste transfer station,” the spokesman said.

“Council has recently acquired land within Glenwood which adds to the existing community space land in Pepper Rd.”