Gold Coast City Council budget 2024/25: The projects councillors want to spend ratepayer money on this year

Spending on certain projects will be put on ice by the Gold Coast council as Mayor Tom Tate moves to rein in the city’s finances. FIND OUT WHY

“Grandiose” spending will be put on ice by the Gold Coast council as Mayor Tom Tate moves to rein in the city’s finances.

Mr Tate brings down his 13th budget in June but has issued a message to his new councillors ahead of budget talks beginning in coming weeks – don’t push any pet projects. The Mayor says the budget’s theme will be “cost of living”, with the mayor vowing to deliver an overall rates rise in line with inflation, despite huge land value rises putting pressure on the budget.

“The budget will be outlining some issues close to my heart,” he said.

“This budget’s theme will be cost of living. Any ideas of grandiose expenditure apart from frontline services will be put aside until we can live within our means.

Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“That will help everyone to understand our budget will be set at CPI or below.”

Rates increased by 5.5 per cent in 2023-23, with the council putting off spending on big-ticket items last year when inflation was dramatically on the rise.

That increase was almost two per cent below inflation, which at the time sat at 7.42 per cent.

By the end of 2022-23 it had fallen to 4.10 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2023.

This was on top of a rates raise of 4.3 per cent in 2022-23.

Other councillors have backed Mr Tate’s push for restraint, saying it’s time to focus on essentials.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates said a focus on the basics was needed given the cost of living crisis.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates Picture: Glenn Campbell

“It has to be, we all need to show a level of restraint in this budget session in terms of our fancy big projects,” she said.

“Each of us always has something we would like to put forward but the city has been well-balanced in terms of making we keep debt levels low.”

This year’s budget will be the first of the council term and, while Mr Tate has yet to let on what key projects will be funded, several measures have been revealed.

Funding is expected to be set aside for the Stage 4 light rail extension from Burleigh Heads to the border via Gold Coast Airport.

Council will pay 11 per cent of the total cost, expected to be $4.4bn but potentially as high as 7.6bn, according to a state government cost range. This would put the city’s contribution at around $484m, far higher than previous stages.

Cr Shelley Curtis Picture: Glenn Campbell

Paradise Point councillor Shelley Curtis said it was important to focus on essentials and future growth.

“From a values perspective, I am very passionate about getting basics right but we also need to cast our eye to the future where we are going to see a lot of population growth,” she said.

“A lot of the things we look at as nice to haves and non-critical will very quickly become critical.

“What is today a shiny bauble (is something we will need to plan for now) to have a sustained lifestyle here on the Gold Coast.”

Funding will also be put towards kicking off council’s long-awaited Southport CBD masterplan.

The initial plan is expected to be delivered in early 2025, with the mayor aiming for a full masterplan by the start of 2026.

This is expected to include a proposal to relocate council’s headquarters from Evandale.

Mr Tate said it would allow for greater flexibility in using the Evandale site in the future.

“This would allow the existing council chambers to be looked at and it could become part of the (Home of the Arts) gallery or maybe as a creative space where young artists can work.”