Sunshine Coast Council to adopt budget for 2021-22 on Thursday

Sunshine Coast Council is scrapping its discount for ratepayers who get ahead on their bills as it chases a budget surplus. Here is your guide to this year’s budget.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson announced the 2021-22 budget on Thursday, June 24.

Sunshine Coast Council is scrapping discounts for those who pay their rates early in its 2021-22 budget.

Councillors on Thursday morning voted unanimously in favour of the $816 million financial plan for the next 12 months.

Mayor Mark Jamieson said it was focused on “support, safety and local recovery”.

It will have no increase to the minimum general rate and a $4 increase to the environmental levy.

Mr Jamieson said the council would return to surplus within the 2021-22 financial year with a positive operating result of $18.8 million.

Budget breakdown:

• A 14 per cent increase in the four pensioner rate concessions, benefiting 21,000 property owners, budgeted at $4 million. Sole homeowners on full pensioners will have a $32 increase and those receiving a part pension will have increases ranging from $9-25.
• A $4 increase in the environment levy to $80
• A 2.5 per cent increase in the 240L waste bin charge
• Discontinuation of the on-time rate payment discount
• Transport levy remains at $14 and environment levy at $13
• Usage of 240L domestic wheelie bin will increase by $7.70 from $309.10 to $316.80 to account for increased contractor expenses.

Mr Jamieson said it was a considered budget that included increased investment in on-the-ground services such as parks and gardens maintenance, community facilities, sporting precincts and health and wellbeing programs.

He said removing the early rates payment discount would fund the re-establishment of the $5m Disaster Rehabilitation Reserve.

The council will spend $268 million on capital works across the region.

The big ticket item in this year’s capital works program is $13m to construct a multi-deck car park in the Maroochydore City Centre.

It also includes $5.7m for resealing roads, $3.6 million to build a new pedestrian and cyclist bridge on Stringybark Road in Buderim and $2.1 million towards the upgrade to Citrus Road at Palmwoods.

The council will also spend $5 million to progress the first stage of the new Honeyfarm Road sports precinct at Meridan Plains and $1.94 million to continue the Caloundra Centre Activation project and design Caloundra district library.

Council’s $816 million budget also includes:

• $169 million to maintain, renew and replace roads, and stormwater assets
• $96 million on waste management and infrastructure
• $87 million on parks, gardens and sporting facilities
• $54 million on libraries, galleries, community facilities and lifeguard services
• $67 million for network planning, development services, local laws and property management
• $35 million for environment, including beaches, foreshores, bushland conservation and clean energy
• $33 million for economic initiatives, including major events, Caloundra Aerodrome and holiday parks.
• $13 million to replace council’s operational services fleet and information technology systems
• $7 million for community events and grants