North Burnett residents fight back against council’s 25% rate rise

Public meetings, petitions and a sense of panic and despair is growing in the North Burnett as the call is made for a vote of no confidence in the council, and state and federal politicians weigh in on the 25 per cent rate rise. Vote in our poll:

In the days since the North Burnett Regional Council announced a significant rate rate, the community has rallied together and is pushing back against the increases, which they say are not financially viable for many in the community.

In the days since the North Burnett Regional Council announced its massive rate rise, the community has voiced its growing outrage, with many pushing back against an increase they say is unaffordable and unviable.

The council narrowly passed a minimum 25 per cent rate increase on general rates at its July 8 budget meeting, with Mayor Les Hotz, councillors Michael Dingle, Susan Payne and Renee McGilvery voting in support and councillors Trina Vaughan, Moira Thompson and Melinda Jones voting against.

Mr Hotz said the council had not opted to phase-in the rates increases over several years, as suggested by some ratepayers, because it needed to act fast to get the financial situation under control.

“We now have our backs to the wall and need to act in a positive manner again,” Mr Hotz said.

CEO Craig Matheson said the organisation had faced significant challenges in the past 10-15 years, including cost increases of more than 10 per cent per year, with revenue rising just 5 per cent, stagnant population growth, and negligible rise in new rateable properties.

Impassioned commentators flooded the council’s Facebook page after the rate rise was revealed, with dozens of comments criticising the move.

The seven members of the 2025 North Burnett Regional Council: Mayor Les Hotz (far left), top row, from left, Melinda Jones, Trina Vaughan and Susan Payne. Bottom row, from left: Renee McGilvery, Michael Dingle and Moira Thompson.

Some have called for a vote of no confidence in the council, others have asked for transparency in the salaries and benefits councillors and the CEO receive, and some have highlighted the services they don’t have access to, like kerbside rubbish collection, but which they are still required to pay for.

Linda Weber and Pat Walsh from Mt Perry said they did not have sewerage in their area and most residents relied on tank water.

Shannon Whelan Eastcott from Mundubbera said their “general residential” street did not have kerbside rubbish collection or appropriate roadside drainage.

Some people suggested those on rural properties who did not use council water, sewerage or get waste removal should be able to claim a discount on their rates.

While they were in the minority, others showed support for the councillors and the difficult decision they had made, and tried to remind the community that regardless of who was elected, no one could be certain who would have voted differently.

Ruth Vicary from Mundubbera said she trusted the council and understood it was making “tough decisions” for the best of the community.

“I voted for you because I trust and respect your decisions,” she wrote.

“If there is anyone out there with integrity who is willing to put their hand up to do a better job, you too will have my vote.”

In response to arguments about the previous mayoral election, Kellie Millington from Gayndah said “whoever got in would have been faced with this budget proposal from the CEO”.

“We don’t know who would have said yes and who would have said no,” she said.

“Some of them who voted for it surprised the community.

“Yes, the ‘other’ candidate might have said no but then again he might have said yes – you don’t know.”

People from all over the region have taken to social media to share how they believe the rates increase will impact their lives.

North Burnett Regional Council CEO Craig Matheson addresses the room at the July 7 budget meeting in Gayndah. Photo: North Burnett Regional Council

Katie Leach from Mundubbera said it was already difficult to get by as a single person with a mortgage, and this increase could mean selling and moving out of the region.

“This rate rise will see me more than likely sell up and leave the area because the cost of living is bad enough as it is before this rate rise,” she said.

“I don’t know how they expect anyone to stick around.”

Kaylee Gardiner is also a single wage earner, and said the increase would mean cutting back more than she already had.

“I never have thought I would think about selling but I may have to,” she said.

In the days since the North Burnett Regional Council announced its massive rate rise, the community has voiced its growing outrage, with many pushing back against an increase they say is unaffordable and unviable.

Lucy Nye Timu has been homeless before and said she was worried about the possibility of being forced to sell with nowhere else to go.

“I can’t keep taking out loans to cover increasing rates and we will eventually be forced to sell our home to repay the council,” she said.

“The idea of becoming homeless again is very stressful, and we have already looked at moving out of North Burnett but there’s just nowhere else for us to go.

“We don’t have enough money to move and we also don’t have enough money to stay.

“It’s devastating and it’s creating a sense of hopeless despair for some.”

The significant increase, which the council indicated could cost from $31 a fortnight or about $800 a year, would likely have a more significant impact on those on a fixed income, like pensioners.

Gayndah pensioner Mark Counihan said the rate rise would force him to stop some of his medications and cut back on fuel.

“If this rate increase goes ahead we won’t even be able to sell our houses, as people will ask how much are the rates, so when they find out how expensive they are they will go elsewhere.”

The North Burnett Regional Council says unprecedented inflation and delays in federal government financial support are key drivers behind a staggering $22.3 million operating loss in the last financial year.

Patricia Hand said her family recently moved to Gayndah in the hopes of retiring in the country, but were “taken back” by the lack of services which seemed particularly onerous in light of the rate rises.

“We just moved to Gayndah as we wanted to retire in the country and love being here but I was very taken back by the lack of services,” she said.

“I always knew that the country people were doing it hard but this is ridiculous in a country like ours.

“Now we find out our rates are going to be put up by an exorbitant 25% just to cover a deficit that the council have not been able to deal with and without any services increased or relief for the ratepayers.”

Biggenden Hardware store owner Phillip Sham said he was concerned about how the rate rise would impact business investment in the region.

“We are concerned about the direction the North Burnett is heading,” he said.

“We believe the recent rate and other service increases will severely hinder investment, and more concerning, force the most vulnerable out of their homes.”

Adding to the already tense and emotional mood, Mr Hotz drew sharp criticism for reportedly making a flippant remark — ‘enjoy your rate notices’ — at the conclusion of the council budget meeting, further inflaming anger and distress.

Multiple people posted on social media about how disrespectful they felt the comment was, with Melinda Anne Saw saying:

“You lost my respect with your comment to the public at the end of the meeting on Monday. There was no need for this, very unprofessional.”

On Tuesday, in a statement published on this Facebook page Mr Hotz apologised for the “belittling and insulting” comment.

“I respect that the remark which I made has caused considerable anger and frustration and I acknowledge that my remark was ill-timed, not appropriate in the circumstances and could reasonably be considered to be in poor taste,” he wrote.

“I regret that my comment has caused offence and concern and for this, I unreservedly apologise for making the comment that I did.”

He said is was never his intent to “cause offence” and it was a “misjudged” attempt at “injecting some light humour” into what had been a difficult and emotional meeting.

“ … what I was endeavouring to convey was that I expected to hear from our residents again when they received their first rates notice for the financial year – which is in fact, when I traditionally receive the highest number of resident calls and communications,” he said.

“In hindsight however, I recognise that what I said did not necessarily convey this sentiment very well.

“For this, I genuinely regret that my comment has generated concerns, anger and dissatisfaction for members of our community.”

North Burnett Regional Council CEO Craig Matheson and Mayor Les Hotz.

Callide LNP MP Bryson Head, published a letter to the residents and ratepayers of North Burnett on July 14, in which he acknowledged the “tough and incredibly hard” situation.

He highlighted several changes and improvements the state government was doing to address “systemic issues within local governments”.

These included growing the ratepayer base and local economy, reducing the cost burdens on councils, and looking into expanding minor, targeted relief.

“I feel for the ratepayers and residents of the NBRC at this time,” he wrote.

A petition calling to cap rate rises to the CPI has garnered more than 530 signatures, with supporters bringing to light the financial difficulties they already face.

Ellie said she signed the petition because “it unfairly targets the most vulnerable in our community”.

“Many North Burnett residents are already struggling with low incomes, rising living costs, and limited access to support,” she wrote.

“A 25% rate increase — and the risk of ongoing CPI-linked rises — only adds more pressure to families already living paycheck to paycheck.

“This kind of financial burden deepens hardship, increases stress, and contributes to serious mental health issues in a region already facing one of the highest suicide rates in the country.

“We need fair, sustainable solutions — not rate hikes that risk breaking our community already struggling.”

Multiple Facebook pages have been created with the aim of bringing the community together, including the North Burnett Ratepayers group with 60 members, and the Say No to the NBRC Rate Rise page, which had close to 250 followers and 160 likes on Tuesday, July 15.

Several meetings have been organised by various community members and groups.

The Mundubbera Enterprise Association’s next monthly meeting will be held at the Royal Hotel Mundubbera on Tuesday night, at 6pm, and will include a special community discussion with councillor Susan Payne and Mr Matheson.Another meeting has been scheduled for midday on Wednesday at the Gayndah community hall, with Federal Flynn MP Colin Boyce expected to attend.

Organiser Paul Wain said it was important for the community to come together to show their support for change.

“We don’t want pensioners losing their homes, we don’t want to see landlords putting up their rents we definitely don’t need business putting up their prices,” he said.

Originally published as North Burnett residents fight back against council’s 25% rate rise