Rockhampton Regional Council hands down 6.21 per cent average rate rise in 2024/2025 budget
Ratepayers will see rates rise in Rockhampton Regional Council’s 2024-2025 Budget, the first in five years which will put it back in black with a slight surplus.
Rockhampton
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Ratepayers have been slugged with an average 6.21 per cent rate rise in Rockhampton Regional Council’s back to basics 2024-2025 Budget, the first in five years which will put it back in black with a slight surplus.
Mayor Tony Williams has assured council will continue to provide discounts and concessions to many of those suffering the most in the cost of living crisis, with its pensioner discount, prompt payment discount, and concessions for charitable organisations and sporting groups.
The newly adopted budget expects to see council with an overall $43,000 operating surplus.
This year’s average rates increase is slightly less than the 2023/2024 budget’s 6.74 per cent for the typical ratepayer, calculated at about $5 a week.
Council’s focus of will continue to be council’s program of critical infrastructure renewal with investments in the region’s water network, water and sewage treatment plants as well as investments in important community services and support.
Some of the key capital projects in council’s $194.3 million expenditure include $109.7 million in water and sewage asset upgrades and renewal, $39.4 million in road upgrades and renewals, $10.6 million in community asset and facilities upgrades and renewals, and $13.4 million in parks and open space improvements and maintenance.
Mayor Tony Williams said the budget also continues to balance the challenges of inflation and cost escalations to council projects, products, and services with the need to limit the impact on ratepayers as much as possible.
Council has also highlighted its other key budget measures, the continuation of the Community Assistance Program, ongoing support for community development and capacity building and ongoing support for economic development and growth initiatives.
Cr Williams said the budget had been a difficult process as councillors sought to meet the costs of the “must dos” while limiting the impact on local residents and businesses.
“We are continuing to see significant cost escalations across all of council’s services, activities and projects,” Cr Williams said.
“There have been considerable increases in costs of construction materials, such as concrete, bitumen products, steel and gravel and aggregate materials, which council has had to absorb to deliver consistent levels of service.
“The reality is that the Rockhampton region has a significant infrastructure renewal program ahead which needs to be delivered. Infrastructure renewal across services like our water, roads and sewage systems which are critical to how our region functions and the liveability of our residents.
“We are conscious however that beside that we need to continue to support the community with the programs and services people rely on. Programs like the Community Assistance Program which saw grants awarded to over 50 local community groups or sporting organisations in 2023-24.
“I think it is also important to acknowledge that we will continue to provide a range of discounts and concessions, including the pensioner discount and concessions for charities and sporting groups, to help those in the community who are most exposed to cost pressures and inflation.
“Finally, where we have had scope to invest in new initiatives, we have focused on those areas which mean tangible improvements in liveability or growth.”
Cr Williams said investments were made in our public spaces, community facilities and economic development to support future growth and a large, more robust economy.
“That is important for our future and a recognition that while we are all feeling the impact of inflation and cost pressures, we can still do things that make a material improvement to people and the community,” he said.
“That is what we have tried to achieve in this Budget.”
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