Logan rates bills surge: $202 yearly hike hits majority of households
A typical residential ratepayer in Logan will face a $202 annual hike in rates, water and waste bills under the city’s biggest-ever budget, as cost-of-living pressures bite.
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Logan ratepayers will pay more for core services including sewerage, water and waste under the city’s new $1.2 billion budget, the largest in the council’s history, handed down on Wednesday, June 25.
The 2025–26 budget lifts general rates and charges by 6.42 per cent, up from last year’s 4.61 per cent, equating to about $3.90 more a week or $202 a year for 59 per cent of households on the minimum general rate.
Mayor Jon Raven said internal cost-cutting and sweeping reforms, including scrapping the $445 Community Services Charge, prevented a much larger increase.
On average, properties in Logan valued over $412,517 will have smaller increases in their general rates and charges than those whose properties are valued under that figure.
The lower valued properties who fail to pay their bills on time will be slugged the full increase of 7.06 per cent.
Logan’s budget compared as more modest and focused on essential services compared to Brisbane’s expansive but controversial financial plans, Redland’s high-cost approach, and Gold Coast’s infrastructure-heavy investments.
Cr Raven said council shaved $32 million from its operational budget spending and knocked back a further $32 million in new spending bids.
Cr Raven also said most residents would be better off under a new minimum rate structure.
“The first draft showed a $16 million deficit just to keep things running,” Cr Raven said.
“To avoid a 23.5 per cent rate hike, we had to make hard choices and we did.
“Now, 84.5 per cent of properties, including 80,000 owner-occupiers, will be better off than they would have been otherwise.”
In one of the major budget adjustments, the council scrapped the old flat $445 Community Services Charge that all ratepayers paid, no matter the size or value of their property.
From July 1, that fee will be included in the general rates, which are calculated based on the value of each property’s land.
For residential homeowners, this means the minimum general rate is now $1616.24 a year, which the council said was $16.96 more than what people paid last year when you combine their general rates with the old flat charge.
Cr Raven said that even though the separate $445 fee has disappeared, most homeowners will see just a small increase in their total rates because the cost is now spread more fairly according to property value.
Sewerage charges were increased by $59.96 to $808, up from $748.04 last year.
Water base charges also climbed, rising $11.08 to $328.52. Volumetric charges increased by $5.66 (council) and $11.32 (state) on average usage.
Waste management charges have jumped $102 to $446 for standard 240L red and yellow bin services, a 29.6 per cent increase over two years after last year’s 8.2 per cent rise.
The $120 prompt payment discount for residential owner-occupiers was retained.
Pensioner concessions were lifted slightly by $8.64 for full-rate pensioners and $4.32 for non-maximum veterans while those with Gold Cards will now receive the full discount for the first time.
But not all councillors supported the budget.
Councillors Lisa Bradley and Jacob Heremaia voted against key items, raising concerns about transparency and fairness, particularly around the new minimum rate structure and conservation land categories.
“This budget hurts the very people we should be helping,” Cr Bradley said during the meeting.
Despite the dissent, the budget passed with majority support and includes a $41 million forecasted surplus due by July 1, 2026.
Key investments include $146.8 million for roads and drainage, with $1.5 million to expand council’s pothole repair fleet after a particularly wet season.
Logan now fixes about 18,000 potholes a year.
A further $138.5 million will be spent on water and wastewater infrastructure to support population growth.
Community infrastructure will get $23.3 million, including upgrades to clubhouses, parks and the Flagstone Community Centre.
Parks will receive $15.9 million, including $6.8 million for Waterford West District Park and works to naturalise Sturdee Park’s concrete drain.
On safety, council has locked in $207,000 for its CCTV network and made its successful illegal dumping task force permanent.
In economic development, food van permit fees have been scrapped, and $4.64 million is earmarked for Meadowbrook revitalisation.
Several core community services have been retained despite rising costs, including kerbside collection, tip vouchers, free green waste disposal, and free trees for residents.
A three-year pet registration option has been introduced, allowing residents to register their animals for the cost of two years.
Council has earmarked $9 million for grassroots sports infrastructure, including clubhouses, lighting and scoreboards, and has allocated an extra $50,000 on top of its existing travel grants for elite sports competitors.
Cr Jacob Heremaia raised concerns about council’s reliance on long-term fixed loans from the Queensland Treasury Corporation and suggested the city explore a more diverse loan maturity structure to manage interest rate risk.
“We don’t want to expose ratepayers to unnecessary interest rate risk,” he said.
HOW LOGAN COMPARES TO OTHER COUNCILS
Brisbane: Its budget is significantly larger at $4.1 billion and included a 3.87 per cent average rates increase and a $512.96 Universal Waste Charge for all bin collections (green, red and yellow), even for residents who do not use them. Brisbane’s budget faced criticism for more than $800 million in cuts to materials and services over the past two years, leading to concerns about declining services and infrastructure neglect.
Redland: Its budget stands at $503 million, with an average 11 per cent increase in all council fees and charges for residential ratepayers. This includes significant hikes in levies: 27 per cent for environmental and coastal, 85 per cent for landfill remediation, and 12 per cent for water access. Redland now has the highest total annual charges in southeast Queensland at $4931 per household. The budget has been contentious, facing criticism for prioritising projects such as the proposed Olympic whitewater centre over essential infrastructure and affordability.
Gold Coast: Its budget details are less comprehensive, but include a record investment of $543 million on transport and infrastructure projects to support the growing population. The city is also facing financial pressures from proposed projects such as the $480 million Gold Coast Arena and beach restoration efforts after Tropical Cyclone Alfred, with dredging alone estimated at $15 million.
■ Council will host a live Facebook Q&A at 6.30pm tonight for residents to ask questions about the budget directly.
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