Gold Coast Council budget road rage as councillors want more money spent on feeder roads

MAYOR Tom Tate will deliver his latest budget today — but behind the scenes there is road rage among councillors about spending priorities.

SEVERAL councillors are concerned today’s council budget will not fund enough traffic congestion busters to ease the city’s gridlock.

At least one councillor is expected to speak out, concerned that more money needs to be spent on council feeder roads to the Pacific Motorway as the M1 undergoes a $2 billion upgrade.

Despite division between councillors, the budget is expected to be passed by a unanimous vote.

Mayor Tom Tate today will present council’s budget. Photo: David Clark

Councillor Tate this month said $200 million of developer contributions would be used to upgrade some of the Coast’s most congested roads. Council itself will spend another $110 million.

WHAT RATEPAYERS WILL PAY AFTER COUNCIL BUDGET

The funding will cover planning to develop a concept design for a second bridge across the Nerang River to Isle of Capri.

But the Gold Coast Bulletin understands councillors have been divided in closed budget sessions about whether the focus should be on the $34 million bridge project, other major link roads or the cultural precinct.

Artist impressions of the Gold Coast City Council's proposed Isle of Capri Bridge duplication. Source: Gold Coast City Council

Hinterland-based councillor Glenn Tozer yesterday said: “I don’t think we’re doing enough for traffic congestion projects given the hard work to establish cash reserves.

“Hinterland residents I’m representing are demanding we do more to improve traffic congestion on council roads feeding into the M1 from Exit 79 south. I’m with them. We can do more with our cash reserves.”

WORST SPEEDING HOTSPOTS ON COAST

Council built-up cash reserves of up to $950 million between 2012-16 and $630 million debt is considered to be in a “sound financial position” to undertake more road works.

Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow said she would prefer funding for the cultural precinct be directed towards major road upgrades.

“My concern is the cultural centre, the amount of money being spent there,” Cr Crichlow said. “I’d rather see the Isle of Capri bridge being done.”

Funding from the Bruce Bishop carpark sale in Surfers Paradise is key to the future of the Isle of Capri bridge upgrade. Picture: Jerad Williams

Councillors backed planning for the Isle of Capri bridge upgrade in May last year. Construction was to start early in 2019 and be completed by 2021.

The plan by Mayor Tom Tate was to use funds from the sale of the Bruce Bishop car park to build the bridge and develop the cultural precinct without borrowing more money.

But council is involved in an ongoing legal row with the Save Surfers Paradise — a powerful lobby group made up of lawyers, a retired judge and businessmen — which launched Supreme Court action to stop the sale.

The bridge upgrade is a pet project of area councillor Gary Baildon who made an election promise to improve road connections to Surfers Paradise.

Cr Tate is tipped to bring down a budget with a rate rise similar to CPI increases, which translates to a general rate increase of $48 for many ratepayers.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS FOR 50C A DAY

Council insiders predict ratepayers will get a better picture in October of the status of many major projects.

“There’s going to be a September budget review. You can be 100 per cent certain that things will be dropped off. They will say you can’t do this and you can’t do that,” a council source said.

HOW OUR BUDGET COMPARES

THE Gold Coast is outperforming rival southeast Queensland councils by delivering lower rate rises — and a big reason why is the contributions from developers.

The Coast, with a 1.73 per cent rate rise today, is outperforming Brisbane (2.4 per cent), Scenic Rim (2.1 per cent) and Moreton Bay (2.89 per cent) with Redlands, Logan and Sunshine Coast yet to release their budgets.

The Bulletin understands the Gold Coast City Council will deliver no increase to water charges, regarding both consumption and service costs.

The State Government bulk water charge is $2.91/kl which represents 72.75 per cent of the total consumption charge.

The State charge is a 3.56 per cent increase on the previous year’s bulk water charge and prompted criticism from ratepayer groups.

Officer reports estimate council will receive around $130 million in infrastructure charges in 2017-18.

Rates for 2018-19

Gold Coast: Up 1.73 per cent or an average increase of $48 for the year.

Tweed Shire: Up 2.3 per cent, an average increase of $23.53.

Brisbane: Up 2.5 per cent or on average $40.

Sydney City Council: Up 2.3 per cent.

Geelong Council: Capped increase of 2.25 per cent.

Scenic Rim: Up 2.1 per cent.

Moreton Bay: 2.89 per cent.

2016-17

Gold Coast: Up 1.8 per cent.

Mackay: Up 2.5 per cent.

Gladstone: Up 1.26 per cent.

Townsville: Down 5 per cent.

Logan: Up 1.7 per cent.

Ipswich: Up 2.95 per cent.