Why Whitsunday council charges for new houses are rising
The mayor asked whether the increase was ‘really necessary’ when it was brought before the council
Whitsunday
Don't miss out on the headlines from Whitsunday. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE cost of building in the Whitsundays will soon rise as council charges are set to increase for the first time in several years.
Infrastructure charges will rise by 3.12 per cent in 2020-21, which means it will cost about $630 more to build a one or two-bedroom house or about $880 more for a house with three or more bedrooms.
Mayor Andrew Willcox questioned whether the changes were “really necessary” when they were brought before the council at the ordinary meeting last week.
Whitsunday Regional Council development services director Neil McGaffin said the increases were based on the charges provided by the state.
“It’s not necessarily something the council creates itself,” he said.
“It’s not just an economic analysis, it’s the actual costs of goods (and) cost of raw materials and the cost of creating it and delivering it.”
More stories
Eco resort earmarked for iconic Whitsunday island
TRAGEDY: Staff member drowns in resort pool
WATCH: Detectives smash Mackay Whitsunday drug syndicate
Division 2 councillor Al Grundy also questioned the increase after what had been a difficult year for the local economy.
However, his concerns were quelled when Division 1 councillor Jan Clifford raised that the last increase had been about four years ago.
The increase also applies to short and long-term accommodation including tent and caravan sites, cabins, hotels and resorts and retirement facilities.
There will also be increases in infrastructure charges for water supply, sewerage, transport, public parks and land for community facilities.
These apply to commercial office and retail spaces, entertainment, essential services, high impact industries, indoor sport and recreational facilities among other non-residential developments.
Councillors unanimously voted in favour of the increase.
Hell and high water: Inside ground zero of North Qld’s flood nightmare
In the dead of night, as most of Ingham slept, a torrent descended. Nothing will ever be the same again. This is the untold true story of how the North Qld spirit conquered unimaginable tragedy and heartbreak.
‘Resilience, 5am starts’: Mining town’s top ‘young citizen’ no ordinary teen
From school dux to Young Citizen of the Year, Corbin Wood has not only excelled in academics but also offers a refreshing outlook on the value of small towns, hard work and understanding war history.
Airport, parts of Bruce Hwy open but more rain still to come
The previously evacuated Proserpine Airport is back in business and more roads across the Mackay and Whitsundays reopened on Saturday, but rising river and rain warnings remain for the already soaked stretch of Qld coast. LATEST.
New owners revealed: Mining town bakehouse reopens
Just three months after it closed a Whitsunday community welcomed back its only bakery, as the new owners worked with the old to bring fresh bread to the town.
WATCH: Driver found stranded on ute roof in raging floodwaters
A North Queensland man is lucky to be alive after being swept off the road and stranded on the roof of his ute in raging floodwaters for hours — until heroic swift water firefighters came to his rescue. WATCH THE VIDEO.
Airport ‘evacuated’ and shut down amid fresh flood fears
A North Queensland airport has been closed with reports waiting passengers were being evacuated from the building amid flooding concerns as the region is battered by rain.