Isaac Regional Council delivers frugal budget with lowest rates increase

The council governing Queensland’s resources engine room has delivered the state’s lowest general rates increase as it focuses on bracing its infrastructure for the future amid uncertain times.

The council governing Queensland’s resources heart will focus on upgrading and replacing its core infrastructure amid an uncertain future on the back of rising coal royalties and supply chain pressures.

A general rates revenue increase of 2.3 per cent will mean the majority of Isaac residents pay an extra $1.90 a week in rates while water consumption charges remain unchanged, and utility charges for water and waste will increase by 2 per cent.

The council’s $40.1m capital works budget is centred on replacing, upgrading and maintaining core infrastructure, or what Mayor Anne Baker said were things ratepayers expected the council to “get those things right”.

She said the council was not immune to increasing financial pressures impacting industry, businesses and families.

“For council business, it means that the mowers we use in our parks, the graders we use on our roads, the filters and pumps for our pools, the piping for water and sewerage projects have all become dearer and harder to secure,” Mrs Baker said.

“Our community expects us to get those things right which is why we are investing in delivering for services today as we deliver in a changing world.”

The council will rely on state and federal government funding contributions for the bigger ticket items across its 58,673sq km network, a continuation of its strong advocacy for its fair share of funding from the resources powerhouse.

Mrs Baker said the council had, during the federal election, secured $2.8m for the Nebo Showgrounds Masterplan Stage 1, $14.4m towards replacing Phillips Creek Bridge, $2m towards the Isaac Resource Excellence Hub, and $400m to seal more than 450km of roads through the Queensland Beef Corridor Partnership.

The council’s capital works budget included an estimated $10.1m towards the Moranbah Community Centre Revitalisation Project, $3.4m gravel re-sheeting program over two years, and $3.2m for the Clermont Showgrounds and saleyards project.

“We are investing $16.4m in roads around the region, $1.9m will go toward maintaining our parks and playgrounds and $7.9 million will be spent on securing our water, waste and wastewater assets for our future,” Mrs Baker said.

Mining vehicles in Moranbah, the biggest town in the Isaac region. Picture: Tara Miko

“A total of $6.9m towards long-term projects like multi-phase community facilities’ upgrades, hubs and compliance on our pools.

“We seek help from funding programs from external sources such as the Australian Government and Queensland Government to meet community expectations.

“This is where Council-led advocacy plays a vital role on behalf of residents to access and secure government funding or legislation changes to provide infrastructure, facilities, and services.”

In handing down her 11th budget, Mrs Baker said finding efficient and innovative ways to deliver services and projects to 17 unique communities was a top priority.

Isaac Regional Council chambers in Moranbah. Picture: Tara Miko

“Our focus is on securing the future of our communities, the world we live in is changing and this means the way we do business needs to change,” she said.

“We are faced with unique and challenging economic conditions beyond the pandemic.

“We have supply chain pressures and increasing costs of delivering the services residents have come to expect.

“We know family budgets are already strained and the council team has worked hard to ensure we keep increases well below the March Consumer Price Index of 6 per cent.

“This budget has been about balancing services with projects that will make sure our Isaac region is well positioned to embrace new opportunities.”

Division breakdown:

Clermont Rural and Glenden – Cr Greg Austen

$3.4m for the Isaac Region Gravel Re-sheeting Program including the 11.6km Wuthung Rd project

$2.9m for Pioneer Rd upgrade, pave and seal 10km to improve safety for the school bus. The project is jointly funding through the state government’s Infrastructure Development Scheme

$700,000 for the $1.56m Eaglefield Rd 2.5km two-year project, with $860,000 set aside in the 2023-24 budget. It is jointly funded under the federal government’s Roads of Strategic Importance initiative

$450,000 for construction of five new concrete floodways on Peakvale Rd

$76,000 for equipotential bonding at the Glenden Pool

$45,000 for the Isaac region’s Remembrance Day seating project.

Dysart – Cr Sandy Moffat

Re-announcement of the federal election funding commitment of $14.4m towards the $18m Philips Bridge construction project. The council states the project is dependent on state government funding.

$1.2m budgeted towards the Saraji Rd and Peak Downs Mines Rd intersection project, jointly funding by BHP, Vitrinite and the council

$800,000 for the two-year $1.63m Dysart-Clermont Rd widening sections project, which is a carry forward from the previous year’s council budget.

$500,000 to replace air-conditioning at the Dysart Civic Centre the council says is subject to grant funding

$200,000 towards investigation and design for future pavement rehabilitation and drainage works at Golden Mile Rd the council says is subject to grant funding.

$50,000 for the Rodney Draper Lane project to build a new footpath and drop and go area.

Moranbah – Cr Gina Lacey, Cr Simon West and Deputy Mayor Kelly Vea Vea

$10.1m currently estimated for the two-year Moranbah Community Centre Revitalisation Project that is jointly funded by the state’s Resource Community Infrastructure Fund, but the total figure may increase because of inflation and supply chain pressures

$2.4m to replace trucks, mini excavators, skid steers, fertiliser spreaders, slashers, aerators, grasscutters, rollers and trailers

Moranbah town sign. Picture: Tara Miko

$2m towards enabling the project scope of the Isaac Resource Excellence Hub, which was a federal election commitment

$1.82m for Moranbah Waste Management facility Phase 2 project stage 2 the council states is a multi-year project

$1.2m currently estimated for the Saraji Rd and Peak Downs Mines Rd intersection project, jointly funding by BHP, Vitrinite and the council

$600,000 to replace the filter valves and air lines on the Moranbah Water Treatment Plant, a budgeted two-year project with $250,000 earmarked for 2023-24

$45,000 for the Isaac region’s Remembrance Day seating project.

Clermont – Cr Carolyn Moriarty

$3.3m two-year stage 2 Clermont Showgrounds and Saleyards revitalisation project, funded through the federal Regional Recovery Partnerships

$2.9m for Pioneer Rd upgrade, pave and seal 10km to improve safety for the school bus. The project is jointly funding through the state government’s Infrastructure Development Scheme

Clermont is a proud historical town in the Isaac region.

$2.4m to replace trucks, mini excavators, skid steers, fertiliser spreaders, slashers, aerators, grasscutters, rollers and trailers

$450,000 construction of five new concrete floodways on Peakvale Rd

$300,000 for weighbridge and design for Clermont Waste Management facility

$150,000 for the Clermont Swimming Centre’s car park and driveway upgrade, subject to federal government approval

Middlemount – Cr Jane Pickels

$3.4m Isaac Region Gravel Re-sheeting program including the 14km Mackenzie River-Capella Rd project

$2.4m to replace trucks, mini excavators, skid steers, fertiliser spreaders, slashers, aerators, grasscutters, rollers and trailers

Middlemount is a mining town.

$1.5m for the Grasstree Rd culvert approaches and design and rehabilitation for Mt Stuart Bedford Weir Rd, funded through the federal government’s Road to Recovery program

$390,000 to replace lights at the netball courts and touch football field, subject to federal government approval

$200,000 for Golden Mile Rd investigation and design for future pavement rehabilitation and drainage works, subject to government grant funding

$45,000 for the Isaac region’s Remembrance Day seating project.

Nebo and Isaac Coast – Cr Viv Coleman

$2.8m two-year Nebo Showgrounds Masterplan stage 1, which was a recent federal election commitment

$3.4m Isaac Region Gravel re-sheeting program includes 4.5km of Lotus Creek Rd and 9.1km of Collaroy-Killarney Rd

$850,000 for Nebo Memorial Hall administration, library and Historic Nebo Museum external revitalisation development, subject to federal approval

$550,000 towards the two-year $1.7m St Lawrence Water Storage and Raw Water Main project

$172,000 construction of a bitumen carpark and concrete footpaths leading to the amenities block in Centenary Park at Nebo

$10,000 for solar bollard lighting for two amenity blocks at Carmila Beach campgrounds