Gympie council reveals proposed dump, dog, poll fee rises in 2023

Gympie residents already battling cost of living rises can expect another hit to the hip pocket, with the council expected to lift the price of just about everything after June. Here’s how much more locals will pay.

Gympie ratepayers will need to dive deeper into their wallets come the new financial year, with several fees and charges to rise as part of upcoming budget.

Residents will need to dig a little bit deeper into their pockets for from July 1 under proposed increases to Gympie council’s fees and charges as part of the 2023 budget.

At Wednesday’s meeting councillors will debate whether to adopt the proposed list of new fees, in which the majority of costs to the ratepayer will rise about 5 per cent.

The staff report accompanying the draft list of fees and charges says these increases will generate about $8.6m for the council in the 2023-24 financial year.

Drivers headed to the region’s tips will once again be slugged with an increase.

A carload of rubbish will now cost $7.40 for Gympie residents, up from $7, while a single axle trailer’s worth will now attract a charge of $26.20, up from $25.

Large trailers carrying waste will cost $43 per trip, up from $41.

The price is steeper for people travelling into the region to dump their rubbish: a carload will cost $10.50, a single axle trailer-load will draw a $42 charge, a large trailer or ute will attract a fee of $79, and a person with a large trailer of light commercial vehicle will pay $256.

Families headed to the Gympie Aquatic Centre can expect to pay $18 if the new fees are adopted by councillors, up from $16.50.

Residents whose dogs are not desexed and microchipped will need a deeper wallet too.

Registering an entire dog will cost $161, up from $153, while pensioners will pay $80 instead of $76.50.

A desexed dog will cost $48 instead of $45, while dogs which have been neutered and microchipped will have their fees left unchanged at $12.

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A trip to the region’s smaller pools will cost $3.70 for adults, up from $3.50, and $3 for children, up from $2.90.

Bringing an extra family member will cost $2.50, up from $2.10.

Heading to the Aquatic Centre will be more expensive with the entry price for adults to rise from $5.70 to $6.

The cost of hiring the Gympie Civic Centre and its rooms (when it reopens) will increase by 4-5 per cent, although community groups will receive a 35 per cent discount on the price. The same police will apply at the Gympie Showgrounds Pavilion.

The price for children will go up from $3.90 to $4.10, while concession card holders will now pay $4.10 instead of $3.85.

Entry for a family of two adults and two children (or one adult and three children) will now cost $18, up from $16.50, and using the water slide will set someone back $6.70, up from $6.40.

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Groups looking to book the Pavilion at the Showgrounds can expect to incur a significant cost under new fess being brought in.

Booking the entire building out will now cost $3989, up from $3790, although community groups will get it cheaper ($2606, an increase on the $2482 charged in 2022-23).

There will now be an option to hire specific parts of the Pavilion out too.

Hiring downstairs for a day will cost $2800 ($1800 for community groups) and upstairs can be had for a $1300 price tag ($900 for community groups).

When it reopens hiring rooms at the Civic Centre will cost between 4-5 per cent more, with community groups again being given a 35 per cent discount on the price.

The proposed fees have not yet been approved by councillors.