Mayor Kerry Hayes announces adoption of the Central Highlands 2023-2024 budget

Central Highlands Regional Council adopted a $292 million budget for the 2023-2024 financial year today. The budget contains an investment of $81 million in new annual capital works projects and $17 million in projects continuing from the last financial year.

Mayor Kerry Hayes said this budget was challenging to set and deliver, as the Australian economy is currently experiencing persistently high inflation rates and rising interest rates.

‘Council is operating in an environment of high inflation, coupled with labour, materials and supplier shortages in the region,’ he said.

‘These factors impact our residents and contribute to a higher cost of living and pressure on household budgets.

‘In our role as the region’s representatives, we are trusted to prioritise wisely, deliver results and progress our region all while ensuring financial longevity.

‘With the size of our region and approximately 15,000 rateable properties, it is a complex task to achieve a balanced budget that is affordable and deliverable,’ Mayor Hayes said.

Residential, commercial and rural rates will increase by an average of 3% and properties in the coal mining sector by 4% for the 2023-2024 financial year.

Rural residents who experienced large land valuation increases in the last region-wide revaluation program, may experience higher than the 3% average increases. However, the increase will be capped at no more than 10%. This is significantly less compared to the original 30% capped increase that was forecast in council’s long-term financial plan last year.

Ratepayers will also see increases in water, sewerage and waste charges for the coming year.

‘The vast geographical network of the Central Highlands makes the provision of water, sewerage and waste management services very costly for council,’ Mayor Hayes continued.

‘As reported in my budget overview from last year, council has been impacted by the Queensland Local Government Grants Commission’s decision to reduce council’s financial assistance grant by 30% over a three-year period,’ he said.

‘Since rates are one of council’s main income streams, increases are necessary to cover this gap, as well as economic factors, to ensure our core service levels are maintained,’ he said.

‘However, we have done everything we can to keep them to a minimum and they are generally below or in line with other councils’ increases across the state.’

Mayor Hayes said the increases were also below the current reported Brisbane Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate of 7%.

‘Council’s large capital works program is strongly focussed on renewing and maintaining existing infrastructure including $35.7 million for roads, $22.9 million for water and sewerage assets, $12.8 million for parks and recreation facilities and $6.0 million for the airport,’ he said.

‘The capital program also includes upgrades to existing infrastructure such as works on the Withersfield Road timber bridge and new infrastructure projects, including the installation of much-needed flood warning network gauges and road cameras, construction of the new Ghungalu Nunee Gardens at Blackwater and commencement of the Springsure Aquatic Centre’s replacement 25-metre pool and new heated pool.

‘The capital program also includes a significant investment of almost $10.4 million in planning, feasibility and design such as for the Nogoa River pedestrian bridge at the Emerald botanic gardens, to position ourselves to access additional funding opportunities wherever we can.

‘This is a responsible budget that responds to both the challenges and opportunities faced by local governments and supports the planning and advocacy for the future economic prosperity of the Central Highlands Region,’ Mayor Hayes continued.

View more on the budget here.

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