Gold Coast Budget 2018: Mayor Tom Tate’s full budget delivery speech

MAYOR Tom Tate has brought down his seventh Gold Coast City Council budget at the Evandale chambers. This is the full text of his budget speech for the 2018-19 budget.

COUNCILLORS, this is the seventh consecutive City Budget that has kept rate increases on the Gold Coast low.

This is the longest period in our history that rate increases have remained so low.

We have now set a low rates trend as the way ahead for our city.

The 2018-19 City Budget continues to deliver the frontline services ratepayers expect, at a price we can all afford.

COUNCIL BUDGET 2018: WHAT GOLD COASTERS ARE GETTING

Mayor Tom Tate Photo: David Clark

It has been a genuine team effort from both Councillors and officers.

I would now like to take this opportunity to thank:

•All Councillors, especially our Deputy Mayor.

•Our CEO.

•The Chief Operating Officer.

•My Chief of Staff.

•All Directors and Council officers who have spent months assisting in the draft budget.

•And last, but not least. All of the residents who contributed through our consultation process to deliver the final budget for 2018-19. Giving us feedback of what they want in this Budget.

It is also important to deliver a budget that gives certainty well into the future. With certainty comes confidence, with confidence comes investment and with investment comes jobs for the future.

Mayor Tom Tate Photo: David Clark

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This enables our future generations — our kids — the opportunity to work, live and bring up their family here.

Councillors, we have to think ahead, way ahead!

Councillors as you can see … we are talking up the economy and our city.

We are reigniting our efforts to not only keep our city safe, but to continue to deliver the best:

* parks

* libraries

* community centres

* cycleways

* city cleaning

* waterways

* beach protection; and

sporting fields.

Councillors in the chamber Photo: David Clark

Job creation will continue to be a priority — with 20,000 new jobs being created on the Gold Coast in the last year.

Our unemployment rate of 4.5% is the lowest in the State, and well below the State average of 6.1%.

And best of all, with an average residential rate rise of only 1.73% which is in line with CPI — that is the lowest in Queensland. That means we are doing our part in keeping cost of living pressures down for our residents.

I have listened to the community’s feedback and ensured that this budget reflects the will of the people, focusing on:

* keeping rates low

* protecting our lifestyle

* building better roads

* creating jobs; and

* opening up our green spaces.

Tom Tate is Mayor of the Gold Coast.