Mackay Regional Council raises rates by 2.5% for FY22-23

Mackay ratepayers can expect to pay more on their annual bills as the council forges ahead with upgrades and signature projects. Here’s how much you will pay.

Mackay ratepayers will be hit with a “modest” rate rise as the council props up three signature projects in its budget.

Rates will rise 2.5 per cent which marks an increase of about $81 a year for the average household.

The yearly bill of about $3048 is geared towards the region’s liveability and affordability, while the Mackay council’s overall $302m budget addressed the challenging economic conditions.

“Council adopted a 2.5 per cent increase in rates revenue across all categories for 2022-23,” Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said.

“This is lower than the Consumer Price Index which for March was 6 per cent.

“The average residential ratepayer in Mackay will pay about $3048 for the 12 months.

“That is up from about $2967, so is an extra $81 for the year, or about $1.55 a week.”

Mr Williamson said the council had committed to keep rises at or below inflation for the next 10 years.

“When we started this budget process six months ago, our forecast was for a CPI of around 2.5 per cent, so that is what we based our budget on,” he said.

“When the CPI started to go north and started to look like some terrible figures, particularly based around energy and fuel and all those sorts of things, we decided, ‘well, can we keep it at 2.5 per cent?’

“Because that is where we started and to the great credit of our officers, we’ve been able to do that.”

Mr Williamson expressed confidence the council could meet the inflationary challenge.

“If inflation drives us crazy over the next 12 months, and that’s a possibility, if that happens, we’ll just have to, like every other business, cut our cloth to suit,” he said.

Evans St homeowner Glenn Agnew labelled the modest rate increase “pretty good”.

“It must be good management by the council to get to that point,” he said.

“If it was higher than the inflation rate I would be concerned.”

The budget also includes a 2.5 per cent increases in fees and charges.

The council’s $104m capital works program will boost its future planning, with $6.2m for the Mackay waterfront, $5.1m for the Northern Beaches Community Hub and $2.1m for the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails getting a share of the council’s coffers.

Another $58.5m would be spent renewing existing assets, $18m on upgrades and $27.5m on new assets.

“Groundbreaking works commenced in March for Mackay Waterfront’s Riverside Revitalisation project, which we know will be a game changer for our region,” Mr Williamson said.

“And with the adoption of today’s budget, we will see an additional $6.2m put towards River Street’s service road and further riverside improvements.”

Two Queensland Government Works for Queensland partially funded projects are also included – $3.8m for Seaforth Esplanade masterplan implementation and $1.7m for Woodlands District Park.

Deputy Mayor Karen May said the council served a vast region with a small rates base compared to many other local government areas.

“While the 2022-23 capital works program covered signature projects, it also encompasses critical infrastructure work such as $11.8m for trunk drainage projects,” Mrs May said.

“This includes $2.3m for Pioneer River levee construction between Rivers Edge Estate to Heaths Road and $1.9m for drainage restoration works on Oak Street in Andergrove.”

City leaders are pushing for a $27.7m federal injection for critical repairs to Mackay’s flood protection system that currently leaves areas of the region open to high risk if there is a major wet weather event.

Mr Williamson has said there are three areas of concern surrounding the city fringe that would cost $27.7m to reduce any risk of significant flood damage.

In January, Labor leader Anthony Albanese promised a $5m spend towards the project if his party won the election.

The council has now added $2.3m towards the project.

The 2022-23 budget includes the adoption of 10-year forecasted capital works program.

Mr Williamson said the council was one of only a handful of local governments in Queensland which was in a financially strong position for the future.

“The long-term financial forecast indicates that council’s budget will remain in surplus with nominal budget surpluses forecasted every year over the next 10 years,” he said.