Noosa’s newly adopted budget reveals rates increase plus a wages blow out of $3m

Locked down Noosa councillors have voted unanimously via video to adopt a $153m budget with an operating expenditure of $106m.

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart has delivered her second budget once again under tough Covid Conditions.

Noosa ratepayers will be forking out more than $3m to cover a council wages bill hike forecast for the coming financial year.

Locked down councillors voted unanimously via video to adopt a $153m budget with an operating expenditure of $106m, including $37.7m to cover employee wages, on Wednesday.

Council corporate services director Michael Shave, who has forecast a $309,000 budget surplus, said it was an 8 per cent increase in wage outlays on last financial year.

Budget papers attributed the added impost to staff pay rises, workers compensation insurance increases plus 13 new permanent staff.

Some key new hirings will be a full-time short-term stay local laws officer, a fire management officer, a development officer and community bushland care officer.

Mr Shave said residents on the minimum general rate will pay an extra $16 in line with the Queensland local government cost index and $44.20 all up when charges are added on.

Mayor Clare Stewart said her council had waived the three-year waiting period for new pensioner concessions.

“Our community has hurt during Covid and we appreciate times are tough,” Ms Stewart said.

“Seventy-five per cent of ratepayers will see a general rate increase of no more than CPI of 1.5 per cent.

“Last year we cut levies to ensure no rates rises, this year transport is back to where it was pre-Covid days,” she said.

The mayor said introducing new rating categories for short-stay properties will address “the impacts guests of these properties have on the demand for council services and infrastructure”.

The Noosa Council was in lockdown for its annual budget delivery with all the councillors except Mayor Clare Stewart forced to vote from home to be Covid safe.

Council also adopted a new bushfire resilience and response levy to be charged on a rate in the dollar basis with a minimum charge per property of $10.

There was no increase in the waste collection charge, but the environment levy will increase by $8 (14 per cent) to $64, while the sustainable transport levy of $30 will rise $7.50 (33 per cent). The heritage levy jumps by $3.50 (70 per cent) to $8.50.

Council expected to collect $75m in rates while offering $2.5m worth of discounts for early payment, $700,000 for pensioners and $174,000 in rate donations to community groups.

Mr Shave’s budget breakdown revealed council intended to borrow $2.36 million in 2020/21 with a further $6.2m the following financial to fund waste management works, the new Doonella bridge and council’s share of the Noosa Water lock replacement.

“Further borrowings are currently forecast in future years for additional waste management landfill cell design and construction,” Mr Shave said.

Council intends spending a record $47m on its capital works program with $20m to renew existing infrastructure and $25.5mn for new and upgrade works.

Major projects include:

– $8.8m constructing the Beckmans Rd Bypass Stage 1 roundabout.

– $7.5m to replace eight bridges across the shire.

– $5.7m for the road resealing program.

– $4.6 to complete the Cooroy Hinterland Playground construction.

– $2.1m to finish the new Peregian Beach Community House.

– $1.4m for the hinterland recreation trails upgrade.

– $1.09m towards the restoration of Noosa Spit dog beach.

Revenue from the council’s commercial enterprises like its holiday parks, Noosa Aquatic Centre, Leisure Centre and The J, is expected to bring in $10m in 2021/22 while local utility Unitywater was expected to kick in a further $5.7m to council coffers.

The council will pocket $5.4m in operating grants and subsidies of $5.4m – $2.3m from the annual financial assistance grant and $2.4m from the Australian and Queensland government to support community support operations.