Homeowners hit with another rate increase under Ipswich City Council’s 2021-22 budget

Residential homeowners will be hit with a rates increase for the second year in a row while local infrastructure wins big with $434 million investment.

Ipswich City Council reveals its plans for the 2021-22 budget.

Homeowners will be hit with a rates rise for the second year in a row under Ipswich City Council’s 2021-22 budget.

Council on Thursday revealed plans for the $532.3 million spend, focusing largely on ratepayers, improvements to local roads, and significant capital works.

Rates for residential properties will increase by 2.75 per cent – a total of $0.94 cents per week.

Meanwhile, a standard 1 per cent rate rise will be imposed on commercial properties.

Despite the modest residential hike, Mayor Teresa Harding said the surplus would allow for much-needed upgrades to local roads.

She said council had listened to urgent calls for repairs to both rural and main roads across the region and delivered a total of $54.5 million.

Works will include a $21.9 million kerb and channel program to take place over the next three years of which Ipswich’s older suburbs stand to benefit from about $15 million.

Meanwhile, a combined $20 million will go toward upgrades at Redbank Plain Road ($7.5 million), Springfield Parkway and Springfield Greenbank Arterial Road ($12.5 million).

Cr Harding said council was under enormous scrutiny by residents to spend ratepayer money wisely.

“We have our eye firmly on the future our community wants for Ipswich; we are planning for it and we are investing in it,” she said.

Cr Harding said council planned to undo years of “financial neglect” of previous administrations.

“We want people to view our council as transparent and honest with its spending of public money; that we are making the tough decisions to ensure we’re meeting the demands of our growing community,” she said.

“We want everyone to join us, invest and grow with us and, most importantly, trust and back us as your council.”

A whopping $434 million has been injected into Council’s three-year capital works program for 2021-2024.

This includes a $40 million boost for the Nicholas Street Precinct Redevelopment which includes both construction and associated costs of Council’s new administration building, the Civic Plaza and retail precinct.

The development of the Brisbane Lions stadium at Springfield Central will also receive a $5.6 million contribution.

It was revealed on Wednesday that several green spaces across the region would undergo significant rehabilitation works to the tune of $1.3 million.

Council also revealed its plans for a levy hike to its Enviroplan Program which is due to increase from $46 to $51 annually.

Annual waste management charges for the weekly collection of red and yellow top bins will increase from $371 to $377, while the green waste charge would remain at $80 a year.

The rural fire levy would remain untouched to sit at $3.

Cr Harding said the past year had proven financially challenging for many and that many of those impacts were reflected in recent budgets.

“This council has shown it has strong environmental credentials and is spending today to make a better future for Ipswich,” Cr Harding said.

“Today, council is delivering on its commitment to invest in a bright and prosperous future for the City of Ipswich.”

Read more stories by Kaitlyn Smith here.