Ipswich City Council passes 2022-23 Budget with 4.49 per cent rate increase
Ipswich City Council has handed down its record $621 million Budget for 2022-23, which features a 4.49 per cent rate hike to cover costs associated with flood recovery and population growth. FULL BUDGET BREAKDOWN
Ipswich
Don't miss out on the headlines from Ipswich. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Ipswich City Council has released a record $621 million Budget for 2022-23 which is focused on flood recovery, delivering “first-class” services, and supporting population growth.
But it comes at a significant cost to ratepayers who will see their rates rise by 4.49 per cent, compared with 2.75 per cent last financial year.
See a full breakdown of who are the big winners, and losers, in the council’s 2022-23 Budget.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
Ipswich City Council’s 2022-23 Budget includes a total rates and charges rise of 4.49 per cent, or $1.48 per week, with an average general rate increase for residential properties of 3.95 per cent.
Mayor Teresa Harding said the council needed to strike a balance between ensuring the city’s growth — particularly as it recovers from this year’s flood events — and limiting the financial burden on ratepayers.
“(The) council has worked hard to maintain a sound financial position despite external forces such as two major flood events earlier this year, the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic, inflation, and rising costs,” she said.
“We are exercising tight controls over spending, while focusing investment in critical areas such as flood recovery, upgrades and services to continue delivering for the Ipswich community.
“The average residential owner occupier will pay a general rate of $1467 for 2022-23.”
The council has also allocated $229 million in the next financial year to its three-year capital works program which is expected to cost a total of $473 million.
It will spend $41.5 million on the Nicholas St Precinct, $41 million on strategic transport projects, $47 million on asset rehabilitation, and $13 million on parks, sport, and the environment. An additional $30 million will go towards flood recovery projects.
The council has also revealed it will, for the very first time, deliver a part-pension concession intended to bring rates relief for those who need it most.
“From July 1, 2022 residential owner occupiers who receive a part-pension will be eligible to receive a pensioner remission of up to $120 per annum,” Mayor Harding said.
“About 3500 part-pensioners will be provided the remission with the new program costing (the) council $430,000.
“The $120 per annum concession will be available for all eligible pensioners regardless of the level of their pension.”
Meanwhile, commercial rates will rise by 3.45 per cent, noxious industry rates will rise by 6.95 per cent, the waste utility charge will rise by $20 to $397, and the Enviroplan levy will increase by $1 to $52.
The Enviroplan levy increase should allow the council to invest $1.8 million in boardwalk and lookout infrastructure at the White Rock Spring Mountain Conservation Estate.
The rural levy will remain unchanged at $3; as will the food and garden organics bin service fee at $80.
“With high growth rates comes the ever-increasing challenge of maintaining and managing the city’s waste system — 2022-2023 will see the arrival of the first tranche of the new sidearm waste collection vehicles to replace the current fleet, and 22 of the initial 28 ordered are currently scheduled to arrive in this period,” Cr Harding said.
“On top of the vehicles needed, we are also planning and funding the infrastructure to provide the services we know the community expects.
“(The) council has also allocated $6.3 million towards a new Materials Recovery Facility, in partnership with Logan and Redlands City Councils, to process the city’s yellow top recycling. Site works are planned to commence in this coming financial year, in preparation for construction the following year.”
The council plans to invest $78 million in improving Ipswich’s local road network in 2022-23 and $800,000 in grants for clubs, not-for-profit organisations, and local groups and creators.
A range of environment initiatives will also see funding as part of the 2022-23 Budget, including recovering vital waterways with severe long-term erosion.
“(The) council is investing $220,000 for recovery works at Gladstone Road Reserve. This will contribute to addressing major erosion issues along the Bremer River,” Councillor Russell Milligan said.
“The Ironpot Creek bank stabilisation project has received an $850,000 injection to construct the next stage.
“An additional $150,000 will be invested in a similar stabilisation project at Woogaroo Creek, which is one of our local waterways known to have platypus.”
The council will also spend nearly $100,000 in 2022-23 on attracting, developing, and retaining Ipswich’s skilled workforce.
“We are a young city with a lot of potential for the future, and we have work to do in reducing youth unemployment and creating the skilled workforce to build a thriving local economy,” Councillor Nicole Jonic said.
MP SLAMS COUNCIL IN LEAD-UP TO BUDGET
State Member for Jordan Charis Mullen has slammed Ipswich City Council’s inaction when it comes its most basic responsibilities, revealing she receives complaints from ratepayers about the state of their city almost every day.
She said the council has ignored key obligations such as mowing, bin collection, and park infrastructure upgrades and will need to allocate more funding to such areas in its upcoming Budget.
“Whilst I appreciate that the $250 million being invested in the Ipswich CBD is important for the local economy, I am worried that the rest of the city is seeing reduced services and maintenance as a result,” Ms Mullen said.
“When simple things like emptying a bin in a dog park is not even being done, we have a problem.”
She said ratepayers were asking for “basic maintenance” in their communities — mowed grass, empty bins, and well-looked-after parks and sporting facilities — which should not be difficult to provide.
Local sporting clubs were also said to be suffering, with executive teams reportedly coming to Ms Mullen with complaints.
“Currently, nearly all of the netball courts are closed due to issues with their construction and there are issues with the lights not working properly,” Ms Mullen said.
“This is disappointing, given the $56 million which has gone into this facility and (the) council really needs to address this as a matter of urgency.
“Nearly all of the sporting clubs currently using these facilities have spoken with me about not being able to take full advantage of the sports complex to support the growth of local sporting clubs.”
She said she raised the issues brought to her by residents with Ipswich councillors Paul Tully and Nicole Jonic and understood they were working to address them in the upcoming Budget.
ICC 2022-23 Budget preview
With just days to go before Ipswich City Council hands down its 2022-23 Budget, it can be revealed who are among those set to benefit most from the government’s expenditure.
The council is expected to allocate a whopping $1.7 million to its in-house mowing team — building on the $550,000 it committed to the service in 2021-22 — following months of rain and flooding.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the investment was important as the region’s residents like to enjoy their parks, playgrounds, and sporting fields, and appreciated well-kept footpaths.
“Ipswich has experienced significant rain in the past 12 months, on top of the staffing impacts caused by Covid-19, which has put (a) real dampener on (the) council’s ability to meet the community’s demands for mowing and park maintenance,” she said.
“This Budget will see (the) council take a proactive approach to addressing these challenges with an additional $1.7 million to increase our in-house mowing team and ensure we’re delivering the best possible service for our residents.”
She said the council did not want residents to continue to experience the “frustration” of shared spaces not being mowed regularly and, as such, planned to hire an additional 21 staff in the new few months to be fully resourced by September.
“This is a great opportunity for local people to work in the city they live in and make a career out of maintaining Ipswich,” Cr Harding said.
Flood recovery has been flagged as another area of focus in the 2022-23 council Budget, as state and federal government funding is reportedly not enough to cover the full cost impact of this year’s floods.
Ipswich City Council has spent close to $5 million on flood recovery, filling potholes, repairing and reopening more than 100 roads, bridges, and recreation areas, and completing urgent repair works at the Ipswich Civic Centre in the past three months alone.
It has not yet been revealed how much the council plans to spend on flood repair works in the next financial year, but Cr Harding has emphasised the council is facing a unique set of circumstances and financial pressures.
“Obviously, (the) council is not immune to the cost pressures of inflation and effects on our supply chains. That is why we are exercising tight controls over spending, while focusing investment in critical areas such as flood recovery and ensuring we continue to deliver for the community,” she said.
“(The) council had some tough decisions to make as we balance community need in our fast-growing city with financial responsibility.”
Ipswich City Council’s 2022-23 Budget will be handed down on Thursday, June 30.
Forensics show girl’s skull hit with force of car
The forensic examination of a two-year-old girl’s remains, who was allegedly tortured and killed by her parents in Regional Queensland, has cast doubt on her stepdad’s claim that “she fell”.
Live stream: Caloundra SHS v Ipswich SHS, Langer Trophy
Ipswich travel north on Wednesday in the hope of completing an undefeated Langer Trophy regular season when they take on a ‘nothing to lose’ Caloundra. Catch the action LIVE from 5pm.