Rates up: Five minute guide to Moreton Bay Regional Council 2022 Budget

One of the biggest rates rises in Moreton Bay history has been delivered at this morning’s budget meeting, with council refusing to cut projects or services. GUIDE TO ALL PROJECTS IN ALL 12 DIVISIONS

Residents will have to find significantly more to pay for their rates after Moreton Bay Regional Council flagged a record increase at today’s (Friday, June 17) Budget meeting.

Mayor Peter Flannery this morning revealed a 4.8 per cent minimum rate rise for owner occupier properties.

The total average rate rise was 5.6 per cent, or $1.71 extra a week.

But Cr Flannery said Council had been “open and honest’’ in flagging a big rise last month after the cost of goods and materials needed by Council were forecast to skyrocket 14 per cent this financial year.

“I want to assure locals that we will not cut projects or services, however this commitment will come at a cost in the current climate,” Cr Flannery said.

“So I’m not going to mince my words, this year’s rate rise is higher than in the past.

“Historically, Moreton Bay has always been one of the lowest rating councils in southeast Queensland and that remains.

“We will deliver a record $259 million capital works program and $32.5 million operating surplus without having to cut a single service.’’

Cr Flannery said the $816 million record Budget also retained the 9 per cent rate cap.

It would include 22 per cent more for better stormwater management, 12 per cent more for parks and implementation of green-top bins, which would be operational by 2025.

Debt was one of the lowest in southeast Queensland due to “14 years of good management’’, at $313 million, allowing more rates money to go into services.

A key feature was be a large boost in green initiatives over the next 12 months.

Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery. Picture: Liam Kidston

Tree plantings would increase by 30 per cent, the environment component of the Infrastructure and Environment Charge would increase by $6 and Council would ramp up its land buyback program.

Cr Flannery said the green focus was in response to overwhelming community feedback about Council operating in a more environmentally sustainable way.

“A proposed increase to the environment charge from $16 to $22 per annum will be considered, to dig deeper and fund more green initiatives,” he said.

“It sounds obvious, but one of the ways we’ll be going greener and helping native fauna is by getting our hands dirty, with 210,000 trees to be planted at strategic locations to enhance existing and emerging habitat hot spots.”

About 160,000 trees were planted in the past financial year, which would now rise to an extra 50,000 trees.

Moreton Bay Regional Council will raise rates at Friday’s Budget meeting.

The trees would be planted in habitat corridors across the region including: Sunstate Park, Kippa-Ring; Anzac Avenue Park, Mango Hill; Fir Place Park, Warner; Ribblesdale Court Park, Joyner; Verge Place Park, Bellmere; Oakey Flat Road Gravel Reserve, Narangba; Bells Creek, Clontarf and the Woodford Sports Complex.

“Large-scale koala habitat plantings will also occur along the North Pine River koala corridor at Dayboro and the Moorina-Rush Creek koala corridor at Rush Creek, with up to 50,000 trees earmarked for these two locations,” Cr Flannery said.

“More than 4500 trees will also be planted in the Griffin Green koala corridor.”

He said Council needed to take steps to lessen the impact of the 10,000 people moving to the Moreton council area every year.

About $500,000 would be spent on wildlife exclusion fencing, a fauna rope bridge and more vegetation at Gympie Rd, Lawnton to limit access to the road corridor and reduce the risk of vehicle strikes.

In other measures, $30 million will be spent to begin road and bridge construction at Youngs Crossing Rd between Petrie and Joyner.

This project will take two years, made possible by more than $32 million in Federal Government funding.

Another $16.6 million was allocated for work on sporting fields, a clubhouse, landscaping, road upgrades, carpar king and stormwater drainage at South Pine Sporting Complex in Brendale.

And $2.2 million woud go towards rebuilding or restoring the Suttons Beach Pavilion

There was $6.5 million over two years for Stage 2 of the soccer facilities at Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex in Burpengary and $6 million to upgrade the intersection of Young Rd and Oakey Flat Rd.

Moreton’s homelessness crisis would be addressed with $1.5 million to construct a support hub in Redcliffe.

Koalas will benefit from some measures in the Budget.

Fauna infrastructure would form part of a two-year, $400,000 program at Edward D Allison Park at Eatons Hill, while $610,000 was earmarked fauna ledges, rope bridges and koala-proof fencing at Samsonvale Rd, Joyner.

Work on two rope bridges and a koala underpass was planned for the Wongan Creek/Bergin Creek habitat area on Bunya Rd, Bunya.

That project would also involve a trial of 4.8km of wildlife-deterrent roadside reflectors.

A further $66,000 would be spent at Roberts Rd, Narangba to renew fauna fencing and the underpass.

“We’re also trialling new technologies like solar-powered ride on mowers, electric vehicles, we’ve installed solar panels on 16 community buildings and we’re in discussions with Tesla to install a battery megapack at our Bunya Waste site,” Cr Flannery said.

Council had partnered with the University of the Sunshine Coast to support research into a vaccine for chlamydia, a serious illness in koalas.

SPENDING IN EVERY DIVISION

Division 1

$1.45m for park upgrades at Cosmos Park, Banksia Beach

$1.3m for road resurfacing

$1.1m for the upgrade of Brennan Park, Bongaree

$1m for a car park upgrade at Bribie Island Sports Complex in Bongaree with funding from the federal government

$935,000 for intersection works and placemaking enhancements to First Ave/Welsby Pde

$450,000 to upgrade amenities at Anzac Memorial Park, Bongaree

$275,000 for park upgrades at Sylvan Beach Boat Ramp precinct

$265,000 to provide staircase access to Buckleys Hole Conservation Park, Bongaree

$250,000 to renew water services at the Bongaree Caravan Park

$205,000 for a fire services upgrade at the Bribie Island Community Arts Centre

$100,000 for new exercise equipment at Oxley Place Park, Sandstone Point

$150,000 to construct a playground along Corymbia Way, Banksia Beach.

Division 2

$6.5 million over two years for Stage 2 of the soccer facilities at Moreton Bay Central Sports

Complex, Burpengary (Including Federal Government funding)

$2 million for road rehabilitation for the Eastern Service Rd, Burpengary East

$1.95 million for road and intersection upgrades on Graham Rd, Morayfield

$1.05 million to overhaul Mazlin Park in Beachmere as a waterfront wedding venue (including State Government funding)

$770,000 for road rehabilitation along Glenwood Drive, Morayfield

$560,000 to install new lights and CCTV at the Burpengary Sports Complex

$385,000 for active transport improvements along Station Rd in Burpengary (including Federal

Government funding)

$175,000 to create an outdoor courtyard at the Burpengary Library

$155,000 for a Ninja Warrior Course at Clayton Park, Beachmere

$40,000 for a flood warning system at Burpengary Creek on Morayfield Rd

Division 3

$1.7 million for road rehabilitation at Bellmere Rd, Bellmere

$1.5 million to upgrade Morayfield Skate Park at Sheep Station Creek Park

$1.5 million for road rehabilitation at Lynfield Drive, Caboolture

$1 million for road rehabilitation and intersection upgrades at William Berry Drive,

Morayfield

$1 million for intersection upgrades at Torrens Rd/River Drive

$900,000 for road rehabilitation at Henzell Rd, Caboolture

$715,000 for road rehabilitation at Riverview St, Caboolture

$450,000 for softball field renewals at Dances Road Sportsgrounds, with contribution from

the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program

$450,000 to construct a vandal-proof public toilet block in Bluebell Street Park, Caboolture

$400,000 for active transport upgrades at Morayfield Rd, Morayfield, with contribution

from the State Government’s South East Queensland Community Stimulus Program

Division 4

$5.7 million for rehabilitation and network improvements across the Division

$1.67 million for the Lake Eden park construction and upgrade in North Lakes ($462,000

Federal Government contribution)

$1.5 million for the intersection upgrade and road extension at Lamington Rd, Mango Hill

Capacity upgrades for the Diamond Jubilee Way/Memorial Drive/Kinsellas Rd West

Intersection and also the Memorial Drive/Discovery Drive Intersection in North Lakes (with

federal funding)

Tiered seating and a shade structure at Kinsellas Sports Complex, North Lakes ($400,000

contribution from the State Government)

Intersection upgrade with left turn out of Stoddart Tce in Mango Hill

Park and walk parking bays at MacKintosh Drive, North Lakes

New Tesch Rd, Brays Rd, Dohles Rocks and Henry Rd footpath etc connections (with state funding)

Upgrades to Victory Drive Park and Peppercorn Street Park, Griffin

New Park with shade at Fern Parade, Griffin

Planning funds for an active travel connection griffin and Mango Hill and a pathway upgrade

around Capestone Lake bypassing the shopping centre entrance.

Amenities block at Capestone Lake, Mango Hill

Funds for investigation and design for additional Dog off Leash areas in Griffin, Mango Hill

and North Lakes.

Division 5

$4.5 million road rehabilitation and intersection change to Boundary Rd in Narangba

$1.47 million for the renewal and upgrade of the Deception Bay Sports Centre Skate Park (including federal funding)

$1.2 million for new lighting for Field Two at Talobilla Park in Kippa Ring, with Queensland

Government assistance

$910,000 for road rehabilitation at Moreton Downs Drive in Deception Bay

$600,000 for a lighting upgrade to the Government Street Sports Complex, with federal

funding

$390,000 for stormwater renewal at the Redcliffe Aerodrome in Rothwell

$350,000 for new play equipment and picnic facilities at Billabong Place Park

$300,000 for a carparking upgrade along Raymond Tce, Deception Bay

Division 6

$2.2 million towards rebuilding or restoring the Suttons Beach Pavilion

$1.5 million to construct a homelessness support hub in Redcliffe, with Queensland

Government support

$1.38 million for netball court renewal at KR Benson Park in Clontarf, with Queensland

Government support

$800,000 for a lighting upgrade to the Bradley Park sports field, Redcliffe

$600,000 for lighting renewal at Ray Frawley Fields in Clontarf, with Federal Government

support

$535,000 for road resurfacing along Lilla St, Woody Point

$530,000 Seawall Renewal at Charlish Park, Redcliffe (South - Stage 1)

$370,000 towards land acquisition for the Margate Civic District Park Development

$320,000 for stormwater renewal along Hawthorne St, Woody Point

$300,000 for the Pelican Park playground renewal at Clontarf

Division 7

$5.2 million to upgrade the intersection of Old Gympie and and Boundary roads, Dakabin

$1.3 million in 2022-23 to upgrade the Alma and Marsden roads intersection in Dakabin, as

part of a larger $4.7 million project including Federal Government funding

$700,000 to begin upgrading a section of Old Gympie Rd in Kallangur, between Viney

Avenue and Highet Street

$500,000 to begin upgrading a section of Old Gympie Rd in Dakabin, between Alma Rd

and Goodwin Rd

$341,674 to upgrade parkland along Fresh Water Creek in Kallangur

$300,000 for wildlife fencing, including for koalas, and tree planting at the Dohles Rocks

Rd crossing of Black Duck Creek in Murrumba Downs

$200,000 to begin upgrading a section of Old Gympie Rd in Kallangur, between Nellies

Ln and Whitehorse Rd

$150,000 for new fitness equipment at Garrong Reserve in Dakabin

Division 8

$30 million to begin roa and bridge construction at Youngs Crossing Rd between Petrie

and Joyner. This project will take two years, made possible by more than $32 million in

Federal Government funding.

$1.3 million for construction of a shared pathway at Ron Thomason Park in Lawnton (including State Government funding)

$1 million in 2022-23 upgrading the intersection of Francis Rd, Sparkes Rd and Ellis

St, Lawnton, as part of a larger $9.8 million project with Federal Government assistance

$887,000 to resurface OId North Rd, Bray Park with Federal Government assistance

$750,000 to continue demolition and rebuilding of the AFL clubhouse at Rob Akers Reserve,

Strathpine with state government assistance

$700,000 to complete a road upgrade at Beeville Rd, Petrie

$500,000 for safe wildlife crossings at Gympie Rd, Lawnton

$470,000 to upgrade drainage at Francis Rd, Bray Park

$255,250 for upgrading the power system at Strathpine Community Centre

$230,000 for a stormwater renewal project at Wyllie Street, Petrie

Division 9

$16.6 million for work on sporting fields, a clubhouse, landscaping, road upgrades, car

parking and stormwater drainage at South Pine Sporting Complex, Brendale

$2.5 million to acquire land for the Youngs Crossing Rd bridge in Joyner, with federal

funding

$1.2 million to fit out for storing gallery and museum collections at a commercial site at

Brendale

$1 million to upgrade Leitchs Rd across Conflagration Creek in Brendale

$800,000 for tiered seating for AFL matches at South Pine Sports Complex, Brendale

Sustainable suburbs - sport, parks, trees, green infrastructure, community connectivity

$610,000 for wildlife crossing installations to protect koalas at Samsonvale Rd, Joyner

$565,000 for new hockey field lighting at the South Pine Sports Complex, Brendale

$422,000 to acquire land to create Albany Creek Civic District Park and improve the amenity

around the civic centre.

$420,000 to upgrade amenities at England Park, Brendale

$295,000 to resurface Folkstone Avenue, Albany Creek.

Division 10

$2.58 million to upgrade the intersection of South Pine Road & Plucks Road in Arana Hills

$2 million to expand the soccer facilities at James Drysdale Reserve in Bunya, with Federal

Government support

$1.33 million for a revamp of Albany Creek’s skate park on Old Northern Road, with Federal

Government support

$1.24 million to upgrade the intersection of Plucks, Caesar and Hutton roads, Arana Hills

$1.1 million for new pathways to connect Plucks Rd to Minto Cres in Arana Hills

$800,000 to renew the tennis courts in Wahminda Park in Ferny Hills, with Federal

Government support

$350,000 to fix the staircase and pathways in Nulty Way Park in Arana Hills, with State

Government support

$334,000 for fauna Crossing Infrastructure Installations along Bunya Rd, Bunya

$300,000 for drainage upgrades along Grevillea St, Everton Hills

$250,000 to upgrade the intersection of Gordon Rd and Ferny Way, Ferny Hills

Division 11

$6 million to upgrade the intersection of Young Rd and Oakey Flat Rd

$1.3 million for streetscaping and beautification works along the Main Street of Samford Village

$1.22 million for safety upgrades to Mount Nebo Rd, Mount Nebo

$800,000 to construct a new carpark next to Alan Cash Park in Samford Village, with Federal

Government funding

$793,000 for curve upgrading to Mount Nebo Rd at the Goat Track

$650,000 for road improvements and upgrades to Cedar Creek Rd

$550,000 to complete works at the Camp Constable Community Hall, Mount Glorious

$535,000 for wetland construction at the Williamina Sports Ground, Narangba

$450,000 for an upgrade to the council building in Dayboro

$350,000 to construct a zero depth splash pad at the Dayboro Swimming Pool with Federal

Government funding

Division 12

$1.5 million to upgrade the parks at CREEC, Burpengary

$1.5 million to improve flood mitigation and drainage along Mathew Cres, Burpengary (over

two years)

$770,000 to install irrigation at the Petersen Road Sports Ground, Morayfield

$590,000 to complete the ‘missing link’ in footpaths along Madeline Drive, Morayfield

$544,000 to repair and improve the netball courts at Woodford Showgrounds following the floods

$380,000 for footpaths along Nairn Road, Morayfield (over two years)

$305,000 for road rehabilitation works along Archer St, Woodford

$200,000 to build a replica vintage train play area in Nashos Memorial Park along the Caboolture-

Wamuran Rail Trail

$300,000 to upgrade Alcock Road Park, Caboolture including new play equipment, shade sails, half

court basketball and car park area

$155,000 to install a new play ground at Lakeview Park, Morayfield