Logan rates up 2.5%, less than Brisbane, Moreton: Budget 2021-22

Rates will go up in Logan on July 1, when a multimillion-dollar garbage contract starts and the city spends on overhauling its roads, waste and sewerage systems.

Ratepayers got some good and bad news when Logan City Council handed down its 2021-22 budget today.

With development applications on the rise under mayor Darren Power, a grand capital spending program was unveiled largely for road upgrades and sewerage plants.

But there was no rates relief for ratepayers with a rise of 2.5 per cent for a typical residential household, equivalent to $68 a year.

MAIN POINTS

General rates up: 2.5%

Water connection charges up: 1%

Waste charges: new contract

Spending on roads: $147 million

Spending on water and sewerage: $140 million

OTHER COUNCILS RATES

Brisbane: 3.75%

Moreton Bay:3.9%

Ipswich, Redlands, Gold Coast: Thursday

That was above the Brisbane CPI of 1.7 per cent and even more than last year’s 2.2 per cent rise.

Mayor Darren Power and Treasurer Natalie Willcocks

It was less than Brisbane, which posted a 3.75 per cent rise in its general rate and with Moreton Bay which posted a 3.9 per cent increase in its general rate.

Cr Power said the rates rise was needed for the city to pay for the “bricks and mortar” necessary to carry out its capital projects including a massive $139.9 million for upgrades to its sewerage systems.

“Building new infrastructure such as roads, community centres, parks and leisure facilities needs to service generations to come and there is no doubt it is costly,” he said.

“The price of materials such as steel, bricks, cement and bitumen continues to soar and councils across the country, including us, must rely on rates to help pay for the construction materials.”

Despite spending up big with a COVID relief package for businesses and ratepayers during the current financial year, the council expected to post a surplus of $8 million in nine days on June 30.

Water bills will also go up after the council increased its water connection charges by 1 per cent but kept its retail fee frozen for the fifth year in a row.

The rise was anticipated ahead of the city’s water and wastewater businesses moving into a new seven-storey tower block in Beenleigh in October.

The building will get a whopping $5.6 million fit-out using funds allocated in last year’s budget but rolled into this financial year.

A large amount of the infrastructure spending will be to upgrade and construct Logan’s sewerage and wastewater treatment plants, after the Beenleigh plant shuts later this year.

The waste levy will remain static with residents paying $294 a year as of July 1, when the city takes up a new 10-year waste contract with Cleanaway, after Logan dumped JJ Richards.

Along with collecting waste and recycling bins, the new contract, listed in the budget, also includes a garden waste bin service and an on-demand bulky waste pick-up.

Pensioners were winners with discounts rising $7.20 from $356.40 this financial year to $363.60 as of July 1. Part pensioners will also receive an increase from $178.20 to $181.80.

A 10 per cent discount on garbage charges will also still be available for full pensioners and up to 5 per cent for part pensioners.

Councillor salaries for the next financial year were not increased with councillors after they were frozen last year when the city’s 13 new councillors voted not to accept a salary rise proposed by the independent Local Government Remuneration Commission.

Under the set salary, Logan mayor Darren Power will get $233,091 for the year, deputy mayor Jon Raven will get $161,499 and each councillor will get $141,520.

The budget also allocated an undisclosed sum for executive salaries, which will include payment for a new CEO after a recruitment process was initiated last week.