Moreton budget breakdown: Everything you need to know
From rate rises, a planning scheme shake-up, jobs and traffic congestion busting projects – here is what is in the Moreton budget for you.
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Moreton Bay Regional Council’s $743 million budget contains some sting with a 3.9 per cent rate rise but there is also a record spend on infrastructure, roads, parks, sporting grounds and a planning scheme shake-up.
Here is a five-minute guide to what’s in it for you.
Rates
Moreton Bay ratepayers hip pockets will feel this year’s budget with the average rates for owner-occupiers to rise by 3.9 per cent – an extra $1.20 a week or $62 a year.
The rise, almost double the 2 per cent rise from 2020/21, is due to the flow-on impacts of COVID-19.
Mayor Peter Flannery said they had worked hard to minimise the rate rise and have retained all of the rebates that are paid to pensioners.
That includes the $250 rebate for full pensioners and $100 rebate for part-pensioners that we introduced in the last year.
Charges
The regional infrastructure environment charge will increase from $84 to $90 per property this year.
This will provide council with $2.9 million to use on land acquisitions, green infrastructure maintenance and renewal.
Planning scheme
After significant backlash and numerous petitions relating to the Moreton Bay Regional Council planning scheme Mayor Peter Flannery said the council would “undertake a top-to-toe overhaul of our planning scheme” while also managing population growth.
It is unclear how much funding is being put towards this but says it will review issues such as car parking ratios, growth management and building heights.
Kallangur and Dakabin, in Division 7, will be the first suburbs to undergo neighbourhood planning and consultation.
Cr Denise Sims (Div 7) said it can’t wait: “This is to engage with locals for their feedback and ideas on how we can reinvigorate these areas to create vibrant communities with identifiable town centres to bring people together.”
Infrastructure
Council’s $743 million budget includes a record $245 million in capital works projects, $25 million more invested into infrastructure than last year.
More than half of the $245 million will be invested into new community infrastructure.
A total of $174 million has been set aside for road and transport networks, $61 million for parks and environment, $59.6 million for waste management, $25 million for waterways, $20 million for libraries, the arts and community and $1.6 million to plan better communities and manage growth.
A big win for Deception Bay is the new Deception Bay Community Hall.
Council has allocated $4.5 million to the upgrade, with $2.5 million support from the Federal Government. It will double as the new home for the Deception Bay Meals on Wheels.
Transport
Almost half, $124 million, of the capital works program funding will go into transport projects.
Major projects including Young’s Crossing, the Moreton Connector and the alignment for the West Moreton Arterial.
Council will put $20 million into Old Gympie Rd and works on the flood prone Henry Rd is due to start later this year.
A total of $5 million will go towards increasing the capacity of Flinders Parade-Cook Court and Torres Crescent Diamond Jubilee Way intersections at the entrance of Bunnings, with $1.3 million Federal Government support.
The upgrade of Boardman and Klingner Rd will be finished this financial year and a $5 million upgrade of Beeville Rd at Petrie will start.
Across the entire region 40,000 tonnes of asphalt will be used for road resurfacing projects.
Divisional breakdown
Councillors have secured some big ticket items for their divisions in this year’s budget including major road upgrades, playground equipment and new community infrastructure
Here are the highlights:
■ $4.5 million to upgrade the Deception Bay Community Hall
■ $1.25 million for Stage 1 of the Redcliffe PCYC expansion in Kippa-Ring
■ $3.35 million for Graham Road in Morayfield, partly thanks to Federal Government support.
■ $12.5 million to upgrade Old Gympie Road, Dakabin from Alma Road to Goodwin Road
■ $7.5 million for Boundary and Old Gympie Roads in Dakabin for a signalised intersection with pedestrian crossing and shared pathways
■ $1.08 million for road improvements to Victoria Ave, Woody Point
■ $6 million to reconstruct Henry Road and Dohles Rocks Road, Griffin, including raising the level of the road to increase flood immunity and build new road pavement, with $4 million Federal Government support
■ $5 million to increase the capacity of Flinders Parade-Cook Court and Torres Crescent Diamond Jubilee Way intersections at the entrance of Bunnings, with $1.3 million Federal Government support
■ $2.5 million for Stage 1 developments of Griffin Sports Complex, including new access, carparking spaces, multipurpose fields, clubhouse, amenities and more
■ $11.6 million to upgrade the South Pine Sporting Complex in Brendale, with support from the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program
■ $2.62 million to complete construction of the Nolan Park BMX Precinct in Brendale, with
support from the State Government
■ $1.2 million to renew the skate park at Old Northern Road, Albany Creek
■ $950,000 for a soccer field renewal and extension at James Drysdale Reserve, Bunya
■ $2.7 million to construct a new active transport link Samford Valley -Percy Cash Pedestrian Bridge – Crossing and Pathway Construction, which is being supported by the State Government
■ $800,000 to streetscape Main Street, Samford Village, including street furniture, landscaping
and paving
■ $4 million for a clubhouse redevelopment at Petersen Road Sports Grounds, Morayfield.
■ $1 million for a road and intersection upgrade at Oakey Flat Road, Morayfield
■ $1.25 million for Stage 1 upgrades to Pine Rivers PCYC in Bray Park with Federal Government support
■ $4.9 million for road rehabilitation and intersection upgrade to Beeville Road, Petrie
■ $500,000 streetscape makeover for Biggs Ave, Beachmere, 50 per cent funded by the Federal Government.
Environment
There will once again be a big focus on koala habitat – council has promised to plant 148,000 new trees.
Last year council bough 4.1 hectares of habitat at Clear Mountain and currently has another 3.9 hectares under contract in Caboolture – the second purchase under the new land buyback scheme.
Another $1 million will go to rehabilitating and revegetating waterways. Council will also spend $105,000 installing turtle sensitive lighting at Bribie Island and Redcliffe.
Sport and recreation
Council will invest $8 million into sporting complexes this financial year and a further $2 million in park upgrades.
This includes upgrades to the Redcliffe and Pine Rivers PCYC and a $1.2 million upgrade to the Albany Creek skate park.
Another $2.62 million will be used to finish the construction of the Nolan Park BMX Precinct in Brendale.
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