Rate increases for Whitsundays residents and businesses

Business owners in one of Queensland’s busiest tourist hotspots will see a dramatic increase to rates — but residents weren’t spared the pain either.

Whitsunday Regional Council moved to adopt the 2025/26 budget on Wednesday.

A dramatic rate rise has been approved for commercial businesses in the Whitsundays, and owner occupiers haven’t got off lightly either.

General commercial and industrial rates will rise on average a whopping 21 per cent while residential owner occupiers will see an average increase of 2 per cent under the 2025/26 budget.

Cr Jan Clifford said she had issues with the “massive” increases to rates for business like marinas and shopping centres.

At the Whitsunday Regional Council’s special budget meeting councillor Jan Clifford said she couldn’t support the “massive” percentage increases in some sectors calling it “unfair and unreasonable”.

Mayor Collins said council had previously held back on increases to ease pressure on the community, but that approach was no longer sustainable.

“To maintain essential services and keep pace with rising costs, we need to act responsibly,” he said.

“We’ve done a complete review of the rating system to ensure all ratepayers contribute fairly and equitably, every service is sustainable, and every decision strengthens our region’s future.

Mayor Ry Collins said the changes would set council on the right path. Picture: Fiona Kroll

“As part of this reset, categorisation and some sectors will see significant changes — and it’s important we’re upfront about that.

“For commercial ratepayers, it’s a big shift, and not one council has made lightly.

“But after years of minimal movement, commercial rates have fallen out of step.

“This adjustment helps restore balance and ensures a fairer share of the cost of services and infrastructure that support our region’s growth.”

Council have said the average residential owner occupier would pay an extra 48 cents per week in rates while the average commercial and industrial owners would pay around $14 a week.

Agricultural and grazing property owners will also see a jump with their average rate increase going up around 7 per cent or $14 per week.

It’s not just rates that are increasing, utility charges are also going to be up with an average increase of five per cent for households and commercial business and four per cent for agriculture and grazing.

More to come.

Originally published as Rate increases for Whitsundays residents and businesses