Five minute guide: City of Moreton 2025 budget

Rates will rise more than inflation in the City of Moreton, but council says it has kept the pain to a minimum in the 2025 budget, amid soaring costs and land valuations.

Moreton residents will pay $45 a year more in rates, but the maximum increase will be capped at 15 per cent, despite soaring land valuations and costs facing council as it deals with the needs of a booming population.

Minimum general residential rates would go up 3.7 per cent, above the 2.4 per cent inflation rate. The median general rate rise was about $60 a year.

But council pointed out that state government land valuations had risen by an average 36 per cent and in some cases had doubled.

Moreton has 190,000 rateable properties, most of whose owners would pay more than the minimum general rate due to increased land valuations.

In good news, the $250 pensioner rebate would continue, plus $100 for part pensioners and $75 for self-funded retirees.

Charges for transport and stormwater infrastructure would climb $11 to $104 per property.

But the environment charge, used to buy bush blocks, would stay unchanged at $26 per property.

Work will start soon on the Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre. Picture: Queensland Government

Charges for 240l general waste and 240l recycling bins would jump $72 to $391 a year, although council said that was one of the cheapest for a southeast Queensland council and included free tipping.

Garden waste collection costs would increase only $3, to $70 a year.

The $1bn budget included a record $400m in capital projects including $100m over five years for The Mill mixed-use knowledge precinct at Petrie, $142m for upgrades to Old Gympie Rd and $120m for upgrades to Youngs Crossing, spread over a number of years.

Debt was forecast to decline to a modest $246m, down from a peak of $382m in 2012.

The operating surplus was 6 per cent, less than Brisbane City Council’s but far higher than in Logan.

Moreton councillors and the CEO hand down the 2025 budget.

Council said it was in a strong financial position and planned to increase borrowings to about $614m over the coming 10 years to cater for a population expected to increase by 50 per cent in two decades.

“We must ensure our city is ready to meet the demands of our rapidly growing population,’’ Mayor Peter Flannery said.

“We are growing by about 12,500 people per year, or 240 people per week, and have phenomenal growth to manage.

“We will invest almost $400 million in infrastructure and capital works.

“This significant investment will support local jobs, deliver vital projects and sustain liveability for our communities.

“These investments include the anticipated redevelopment of the Suttons Beach Pavilion, which will bring new life to this much-loved seaside precinct and iconic location on our foreshores.

“Site works will soon be under way for the new Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre at Petrie, which is our 10,000-seat premier multipurpose Brisbane 2032 venue.’’

Originally published as Five minute guide: City of Moreton 2025 budget