Roads, water and wastewater at the forefront of Southern Downs Regional Council’s draft budget
The newly proposed council budget has revealed what’s high on the priority list over the next 12 months. Find out what’s in store here.
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The suspense precluding the release of Southern Downs council’s draft budget is now over with feedback from the community now open.
Council’s proposed 2025-26 budget could see a hit to residents’ hip pockets with an expected rates increase for residential and rural properties.
While capital works will see an investment of $43.4m across 100 projects ranging from transport, water supply and wastewater, council and community facilities, and waste.
The previous financial year’s budget saw a commitment of more than $61m towards capital works projects, which included a carry-over from 2023-24 of $12.5m.
See what’s in store below.
Rates
Residential properties in Warwick and Stanthorpe are set to see an increase of around $120 a year in rates and utilities, while non-residential properties could see an increase of around $285 per year.
Water access charges will also see an increase of 9.25 per cent which aligns with the price path implemented in the 2023-24 financial year.
Wastewater fees will rise slightly by 3.7 per cent, with council attributing the increase to helping maintain services and investing in infrastructure.
Capital works
The proposed budget will see a large portion of the capital works budget dedicated to flood recovery works with an allocation of $5.2m, reseal and rehabilitation program coming in at $1.5m and resheeting program at $993,000.
More than $7m will go towards water projects including the Leslie Dam raw water pipeline worth $1.5m and smart water metering.
Significant wastewater projects include the McEvoy rising main renewal estimated at $1.2m and relining of sewer mains at $750,000.
This budget will also see the final stage of the Warwick Saleyards redevelopment, along with upgrading the WIRAC filtration system and a $5.9m investment into machinery replacement.
The full breakdown can be found on Southern Downs Regional Council’s website.
Residents have until June 9 to make a submission.
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