Olympic spending triggers protest as Redland approves average 11 per cent increase in all fees and charges

A bitter rift in a bayside council has resulted in the city’s 2025-26 budget initially being dumped before being salvaged – with the mayor voting against adopting it – leaving an average 11 per cent rise in fees and charges for residents.

Highlights of the 2025-2026 Redland City Council budget which will come into effect on July 1, 2025.

Redland City Council has become the laughing stock of South East Queensland local government after an extraordinary display of dysfunction during its 2025-26 budget meeting that saw walkouts, warnings, dissent motions, and ultimately a budget passed after councillors initially failed to approve it.

After months of internal division and public outrage, the adopted budget hands a typical Redland residential ratepayer, whose property is valued above $680,000, nearly an 11 per cent increase in all council fees and charges, including a $110 annual hike in general rates.

That equates to approximately $2.13 a week extra in general rates for a residential owner-occupied property valued at the minimum general rate threshold of $680,000.

The adopted $503 million budget contains significant jumps in key service costs including a 27 per cent rise in the environmental and coastal levy, an 85 per cent increase in the landfill remediation levy, a 12 per cent hike to the fixed water access charge, and an 11 per cent rise in the SES levy to $60.

A comparison of Redland rates, fees and charges for a typical median residential property compared with Brisbane, Gold Coast, Somerset and Toowoomba. Moreton City Council has adopted its budget but is not included in this comparison as its water fees and charges are yet to be revealed by Unity Water.

Redland emerged as the most expensive council among the southeast councils that have already handed down their budgets with a typical average household facing a total annual bill of $4931 in general rates, service charges, water and sewerage costs.

The figure is significantly higher than neighbouring councils, including Brisbane, where the total bill for an average residential ratepaying household is $4007; the Gold Coast where, it is $4396, Toowoomba at $4300; and well above Somerset at $3344.

Redland ratepayers were hit hardest in several key areas, with bin charges the highest in the southeast at $650 for a 240-litre bin.

The city also topped the list for sewerage at $915, and other council charges at $349.

General rates are $1607.75, second only to Toowoomba, while water retail and bulk water charges are in line with the region,

Redland’s Environmental Management Levy remains equal to other councils at $251.68.

The mounting costs come as Redland grapples with rising service expenses and a projected $4 million operating deficit, fuelling resident frustration and deepening the political divide within council.

Angry Redland ratepayers outside the council chambers on Monday, hours before the council adopted a budget which will increase rates, fees and charges for a typical household whose land valuation is more than $680,000 by nearly 11 per cent.

The budget meeting chaos also highlighted a possible budget blowout with one projection of the operating deficit to be $4 million on July 1.

One of the bolder moves was introducing a $6 rural fire levy to all ratepayers rather than just pinpointing certain areas.

The Environment and Coastal Management separate charge will rise by $55.48, increasing from $202.52 to $258.00 per annum to fund an expanded program.

The Landfill Remediation separate charge will increase by $35.72, from $41.88 to $77.60 per annum.

The Redland City SES Administration separate charge will increase by 76 cents, from $6.64 to $7.40 per annum.

Water access charges controlled by council will also rise.

The 2025-26 fixed domestic water access charge will increase by 12.02 per cent, from $336.72 to $377.20.

Redland 2025-2026 rates and charges at a glance

The variable residential water consumption charge will rise by 8.8 cents per kilolitre, from 73.2 cents to 82.0 cents.

The state government’s bulk water charge will increase by 7.3 cents, from $3.444 to $3.517 per kilolitre for 2025–26.

Wastewater pricing will also rise, with the average domestic sewerage charge increasing from $34.92 to $36.60 per unit. A typical residential property is assessed at 25 units.

As part of the 2025–26 financial year, Redland City Council will recognise $5,019,821 in revenue from the Queensland Government’s advance waste levy payment, made in 2021–22 under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011, to offset the impact of the state waste levy on households.

Other expenses for large projects outlined in the budget by chief executive Louise Rusan included waste management expenses which are set to climb to $39 million, with nearly one-third of the capital works program, or $48.27 million, to go to water, waste and wastewater projects, including sewers for housing estates.

Mayor Jos Mitchell, left, and CEO Louise Rusan at the meeting which was plagued by councillors interrupting proceedings with “points of order” until it was eventually adjourned after the first three hours.

A further $43.32 million was allocated for road upgrades and resurfacing and $8.5 million will be spent on digital transformation to drive long-term efficiency.

Despite pressure from cyclone recovery and state-imposed environmental rules, council has not imposed a levy and instead found $23 million in savings.

Pensioner rebates will remain at $335 for full pensioners and $167.50 for part pensioners.

The budget chaos erupted on Monday when, despite eight months of planning, the five-hour meeting descended into confusion and acrimony.

Five councillors, including Mayor Jos Mitchell, initially voted against adopting the budget and with Cr Shane Rendalls abstaining, a failed vote was recorded and an urgent adjournment called.

Cr Julie Talty was one of five to vote against the budget.

After a 1.5-hour break and closed door meeting, the councillors reformed to finally adopt the budget, with the mayor, and councillors Julie Talty, Shane Rendalls, Rowanne McKenzie and Tracey Huges still voting it down.

Mayor Mitchell, who is in a minority within chambers, ultimately voted against adopting the budget and did not comment on the process.

The animosity kicked off in earnest when Cr Talty delivered a pointed and detailed critique of the budget process, marking a clear division between her and the mayor.

Cr Talty raised alarm about an unexplained allocation of more than $500,000 for external contractors to delve into the city’s finances, a decision she called “uncosted, unmeasured and unexplained”.

She also questioned the mayor’s follow-through on the external review pointing out that no terms of reference had yet been returned to councillors.

Cr Paul Golle warned that if not for staff’s extensive efforts to find internal efficiencies, Redlands could have faced an 18 per cent rate hike.

CEO Louise Rusan.

Debate grew so heated that Cr Talty raised a formal dissent motion against the mayor, a rare move in Queensland local government, which was ultimately defeated.

Outside the chambers, dozens of residents rallied, accusing council of a “money grab” and ignoring years of cost blowouts, legal losses, and mismanaged projects, including the controversial Olympic whitewater centre.

Ratepayer and Community Alliance for Responsible Planning Redlands leader Lavinia Wood said the council was already aware that people did not want to pay for infrastructure for a whitewater centre and its ongoing maintenance.

“Council’s own consultation processes have told them that and what’s more, half the councillors don’t want it either,” she said.

“Redlanders already pay the highest rates and water charges in southeast Queensland and there are many, many far more useful ways our council should be spending our money.

“The whitewater centre will displace other more worthy projects, and it’s huge annual operating deficit will be a new burden for ratepayers to carry for decades to come.”

Concerned ratepayer Cal Sorenson-Karkliss.

Quandamooka man Cal Sorensen-Karkliss was also protesting because he believed that Indigenous elders were not adequately consulted in the planning process for the Birkdale Olympic site.

“I fear that the state government and city council could be repeating mistakes to isolate First Nations people from any local Olympics events much like the Commonwealth Games in 1982.”

Inside, councillors clashed over priorities, transparency, and the city’s mounting financial pressures, with Redland facing a projected $4 million operating deficit on July 1.

The meeting was told local governments delivered 77 per cent of the country’s public infrastructure while receiving only 3 per cent of state tax revenue.

After the meeting, Mayor Mitchell said she had provided advice to the CEO and councillors “on a number of occasions” that she would not be supporting the proposed budget.

“I did not personally support today’s motion for a minimum rate increase of 7.89 per cent, and bottom line rate of 10.68 per cent,” she said.

“I want to ensure Redland City Council staff members have the resources they need to do their jobs and the council is delivering the services our community needs, in the most efficient and effective way possible.

“I believe in a democratic system in which councillors are free to determine their own decisions on behalf of the community that elected them.

“I really hope lessons are learnt from today’s meeting and I continue with my election message of promoting professional conduct and workplace respect.”

Originally published as Olympic spending triggers protest as Redland approves average 11 per cent increase in all fees and charges