Sunshine Coast Council reveals billion-dollar budget

A super-sized budget has been announced for the Sunshine Coast as several charges and rates increased amid cost of living pressures. See how much more you’ll pay.

The Sunshine Coast Council revealed the details of the billion dollar budget for the region.

The Sunshine Coast Council has delivered its biggest budget on record on Thursday morning as the region grapples with a booming population and crippling housing crisis.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson delivered the largest budget for the region — reaching $1bn on June 22 for the 2023-24 financial year, which included a number of increased charges and rates for Sunshine Coast residents.

Sunshine Coast property owner occupiers will be hit with a 5.55 per cent increase on their rates, which will add an extra $74 per year to the bill for the majority of properties on the Coast.

Residents will also be paying an extra $2 for each of the environment, transport and arts and heritage levies.

The wheelie bin service will increase by $27.60, bringing the total cost to $360.30 per year.

Mr Jamieson said the budget had a specific focus on easing the financial burden experienced by pensioners in the region, announcing a seven per cent increase in their pensioner rate concession.

“Council has worked hard to keep the minimum general rate increase for owner-occupiers to below CPI,” Mr Jamieson said.

“The majority of owner-occupied properties will see a $1.42 per week increase in their general rate. This 5.55 per cent increase is below CPI.”

The Sunshine Coast Council revealed its billion-dollar budget for the 2023/24 financial year on Thursday.

The road and cycleway networks on the Coast will be the focus of the $331m Capital Works Program, with $5.5m of federal funding dedicated to the upgrade of Brisbane Rd, Mooloolaba and the new Mayes Canal Bridge.

The upgrade at Oval Ave and Gosling St in Caloundra will also receive $5.4m to begin construction.

Sunshine Coast sports and recreation will get a boost in funding with $14.4m allocated to start building the Honeyfarm Road Sports Precinct and $9.1m to the Kawana Waters Regional Aquatic Centre upgrade.

The Kawana Regional Aquatic Centre will receive $9.1m for its upgrade.

The budget was successfully adopted with unanimous support from all councillors, despite some remarking there was more that needed to be done to ease the cost-of-living and housing pressures faced by residents.

Councillor David Law said the billion-dollar budget was significant but there was “still so much more we could be doing”.

“While we reflect and say yes it is a huge budget for a huge region with a very fast growing population we are also in a time of cost of living pressure for many people,” Mr Law said.

“We have large numbers in our community who are struggling to pay their rent and have a roof over their head, we have people living in parks and gardens.”

Originally published as Sunshine Coast Council reveals billion-dollar budget