Catalyst infrastructure drives growth and jobs in Council Budget

Published on 24 June 2021

Rockhampton Regional Council has today adopted its 21/22 Budget with a $151 million capital works program at its heart.

In handing down his first Budget as Mayor, Tony Williams said today’s budget was a key milestone in securing the region’s future growth.

“This is a Budget that invests in growth. Growth in services. Growth in population. And growth in infrastructure,” Mayor Williams said.

“The centrepiece of this year’s Budget is a $77 million investment over the next three years in three catalyst projects – the North Rockhampton Sewage Treatment Plant, the Gracemere Sewage Treatment Plant and the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant.

“Once completed, these projects will allow us to grow from a community of around 35-thousand homes and businesses to more than 50-thousand.

“When I was sworn in as Mayor in February, I said I wanted to work with Councillors to get Council back into black after last year’s deficit of $5.4 million.

“I’m pleased to say this Budget sets Council up to return to surplus next financial year. Today, we have reduced that deficit by more than $3 million to end up $2.1 million in the red this year.

“Our challenge has been to cut costs without cutting services and that is what we’ve done. From here, we need to stay the course and continue to find better and smarter ways of doing business to stretch our dollar further.

“In this budget, we are proposing a rate increase of 3.35 per cent. For the typical residential ratepayer, this is a total of $2.26 extra per week.

“We have kept this rate rise as low as possible while ensuring we can continue to fund services, deliver vital infrastructure projects and ensure we do not compromise our future.

“We have done this in the face of reduced income from the airport, higher insurance costs and the pressures from the ongoing drought in Mount Morgan which is forcing us to cart water daily.

“We will continue our support to residents to help them manage the cost of living. We have kept the 10% discount for those who pay their rates by the due date and the pensioner rebate is worth up to $260. When combined with the Queensland Government concession of $200, this is much needed relief for our thousands of pensioners.

“I would like to thank and commend my fellow Councillors for their efforts, the constructive debate and compromises we’ve all had to make over the many workshops undertaken in order to form this budget,” Mayor Williams said.

The 2021/2022 Budget is available on Council’s website here.

Capital Budget Highlights for 21-22 FY

• Completion of Airport Terminal Refurbishment - $3 million ($2.359 million grant funds)
• Airport – Alliance Hangar Works - $26 million ($25 million Federal grant)
• Completion of Rockhampton Museum of Art ($2.8 million) and finalisation of grant funding ($6.76 million)
• Continuation of North Rockhampton Sewage Treatment Plant augmentation with a budget of $15 million out of a total budget of $47.35 million project ($5.1 million in grant funding)
• Continuation of Glenmore Water Treatment Plant Electrical Upgrade $9.5 million of a total $17.13 million project
• Commencement of Gracemere Sewage Treatment Plant $0.4 million of a total $14.8 million project
• Completion of CBD Cultural Precinct Project $2.027 million
• Completion of design development for South Rockhampton Flood Levee $0.4 million
• Continuation of Solar Energy installation at Glenmore Water Treatment Plant $3.36 million of an expanded $3.985 million project ($1.36 million in grant funding)
• Rectification works to Riverside Boardwalk $1.6 million (fully supported by $1.6 million grant funding)
• Parks New Works and Renewals $2.335 million
• Commencement of Pilbeam Theatre Business Case and Design for Redevelopment $0.5 million of $3 million project (subject to grant funding of $2 million)
• Continuation of Botanic Gardens and Zoo Redevelopment $3.075 million ($1.6 million grant funding) – project commitment of $2 million per year on average for next 10 years
• Initial commitment of $0.5 million for Mount Morgan Pool refurbishment (subject to 50% grant funding) – overall project estimated at $5 million
• $16.78 million on road renewal program, offset by $3.93 million in grant funding
• $4.136 million on traffic facilities improvements
• Mount Morgan Water Security Business Case $1 million ($0.5 million in grant funding)
• Continuation of Life Extension to Lakes Creek Road Landfill $2.632 million
• Commencement of Gracemere Waste Transfer Station Design & Construct $1.07 million of a $2.167 million project