$816m budget helps create a safer, secure future on Sunshine Coast

Creating a safer, secure future for our community remains sharply in focus with Sunshine Coast Council endorsing its $816 million budget for 2021/22.

Mayor Mark Jamieson said the budget would continue to support the region's recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 by investing $268 million in job-creating local infrastructure projects, supporting pensioners through increased concessions and increasing spending on frontline services for our community.

"We have delivered a considered budget focused on local recovery with no increase to the minimum general rate, which is good news for a majority of ratepayers," Mayor Jamieson said.

"COVID-19 has resulted in the most severe global economic crisis in more than a century and we are not out of the woods yet.

"You only have to see the recent interstate lock downs and our own experience earlier this month to understand how vulnerable communities can be during the recovery process.

"Thanks to our council's track record of disciplined financial management, we entered the pandemic last year in a strong budget position with a $5 million Disaster Rehabilitation Reserve.

"That reserve provided us with the ability to respond when we needed to, and we gave every ratepayer a one-off $35 COVID rebate last year.

"This year, council is again looking to the future as we balance our investment in our environment, our community and our economy and continue to support our region's recovery efforts.

"In line with our role as guardians for the well-being of our community, we will re-establish the $5 million Disaster Rehabilitation Reserve which will be set aside to aid our recovery from a future major disaster.

"Our council is also responding to what matters most to our community by increasing our investment in on-the-ground services, such as parks and gardens maintenance, community facilities, sporting precincts and providing health and wellbeing programs – all of which will help more people, more often.

"The re-establishment of the $5 million Disaster Rehabilitation Reserve and the increase in on-the-ground services will be funded by removing the 5% discount for on-time rates payment.

"This is a financially prudent approach to support our growing community, while avoiding an across-the-board increase in the general rate.

"Council remains committed however, to assisting ratepayers who cannot pay in full by the due date and will be continuing to offer payment arrangements.

"Anyone experiencing financial hardship only needs to contact council before their rates are due, to arrange payment by instalments over a six-month period, without interest being charged."

Mayor Jamieson said council also recognised the financial difficulties being experienced by pensioners in our community.

"All pensioners will benefit from a 14% increase in their pensioner rate concession," Mayor Jamieson said.

"Sole homeowners on full pensions will receive a $262 concession, an increased benefit of $32.

"Those receiving a part pension will also benefit, ranging from $9-$25, taking their concession to between $74 and $205, depending on whether they own the property solely or jointly."

Mayor Jamieson said council would continue its commitment to driving a substantial capital works program, investing $268 million across the region, which would help support a stronger local economy, generate employment and provide access to new services and facilities for our community.

He also reaffirmed council's commitment to preferencing local businesses through its procurement arrangements wherever possible, after having spent $241 million with local suppliers in the current financial year to June 1.

"While our budget is focused on helping our community and local business recover from the impacts of COVID-19, we haven't overlooked our enduring commitment to protecting our environment and natural assets," Mayor Jamieson said.

"The Environment Levy will increase by $4 to $80 and raise $11.9 million to continue to support our environmental partnerships and grants, education and other incentives, purchasing and managing land for conservation purposes, catchment and coastal rehabilitation projects.

"Importantly, this year's $4 levy increase will raise $600,000 which will be allocated to enhancing the region's response to weeds.

"This will entail targeted weed management demonstration programs, building community, industry and other agency partnerships and a focus on exploring and trialling new technology to improve identifying and managing weeds.

"The Heritage Levy will remain at $13 and raise $1.9 million to continue to support a wide range of initiatives to promote our region's heritage stories and assets.

"This will also support community museums, historical societies and cultural heritage projects developed in collaboration with Kabi Kabi, Jinibara and descendants of Australian South Sea Islander peoples."

The Transport Levy will remain at $44, allowing $6.5 million to be directed towards numerous projects including finalising the options analysis for the Sunshine Coast Mass Transit project; implementing the five year travel change behaviour program; improving safe walk-up and cycle opportunities to selected bus stops; supporting and monitoring the new trial Ridescore Active Schools Program at selected schools; supporting the Council Link service for eligible persons travelling to their nearest centre; continued Flexilink services; and the Kenilworth Community Transport Service.

To account for increased contractor expenses, the cost to collect a standard 240 litre domestic wheelie bin will increase by $7.70 from $309.10 to $316.80.

Council's $816 million budget includes:

• $169 million to maintain, renew and replace roads, pathways and stormwater assets
• $96 million on waste management services and infrastructure
• $87 million to maintain, renew and replace council's many parks, gardens and sporting facilities
• $54 million for libraries, galleries, community facilities and lifeguard services at our popular beaches
• $67 million for network planning, development services, local laws and property management
• $35 million for environment, including beaches, foreshores, bushland conservation and clean energy
• $33 million for economic initiatives, including major events, Caloundra Aerodrome and holiday parks
• $13 million to replace council's operational services fleet and information technology systems
• $7 million for community events and grants

  Some of the key local projects included in Council's $268 million Capital Works Program include:

  Road/cycleway network

• $24.6 million for the Mooloolaba Transport Corridor Upgrade: Stage 2 - Brisbane Road to Kyamba Court including the new Mayes Canal Bridge (inclusive of the $12 million Australian Government funding through the $4 billion Urban Congestion Fund) and Stage 3 – The intersection of Brisbane Road/Walan Street/Hancock Street
• $23.3 million to reseal and rehabilitate council's sealed road network, including Old Gympie Road, Glass House Mountains
• $13 million to construct a new multi-deck car park in the Maroochydore City Centre

• $5.7 million to continue sealing council's gravel roads network including on Zgrajewski Road, Yandina Creek; Oyster Bank Road, Bli Bli; Citrus Road, Palmwoods
• $3.6 million to construct a new pedestrian and cyclist bridge on Stringybark Road, Buderim

• $2.1 million funding for the $2.32 million upgrade to Citrus Road, Palmwoods

• $1.5 million (jointly funded with the Department of Transport and Main Roads) for the detailed design of the Nicklin Way to Omrah Avenue corridor upgrade at Caloundra.

• $840,000 to upgrade the Queen Street/Bower Street intersection, Caloundra

• $620,000 to construct kerb and channelling between Conebush Road to Coolibah Street, Mudjimba
• $575,000 to upgrade the entry road and car park to the Mooloolah Valley Sports Complex, Mooloolah Valley
• $359,000 to design and start construction of on-road carparking along Obi Lane South, Maleny
• $300,000 towards the Coolum Sports Complex intersection upgrade on David Low Way

• $190,000 to widen the road seal and rehabilitate the bridge on Kings Road, Glass House Mountains
• $150,000 to design the widening and reseal of Obi Lane, Maleny
• $50,000 to widen a narrow section of Burnett Lane between Maleny Kenilworth Road and Engle Lane, Reesville
• $50,000 to widen the road seal along Annie Street, Landsborough
• $50,000 to widen Burys Road, Beerwah

  Streetscaping

• $5.25 million for the Northern Parkland upgrade as part of the Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation project
• $700,000 to progress placemaking activities within the Eumundi Town Centre
• $450,000 towards constructing the Woombye streetscape placemaking project
• $200,000 for Eudlo streetscape works
• $200,000 for Maleny streetscape works
• $50,000 to design the next stage of Landsborough Place Making Master Plan

  Sport and recreation

• $5 million to progress the first stage of the new Honeyfarm Road sports precinct at Meridan Plains
• $1.1 million to construct the Nambour Petrie Creek Parklands Quota Park extension
• $1.1 million to design and construct a district recreation park in the Sippy Downs Town Centre – Forest Park West Sippy Downs
• $1 million towards Nambour Aquatic Centre amenities refurbishment, pool shelter and infrastructure renewal.

• $750,000 to design and construct the Coastal Pathway from Dicky Beach Park to Sir Leslie Wilson Park, Dicky Beach and $220,000 to extend the Bokarina-Warana Coastal Pathway to John Hotton Park, Bokarina

• $550,000 to progress the design of the stage 1 and 2 of the Kawana Aquatic Centre to help position the centre as a regional facility
• $410,000 to upgrade the equestrian arena and parkland at the Nambour Showgrounds
• $130,000 to renew playground equipment and the shelter at Newell Park, Beerwah and to replace the dive blocks at the Beerwah Aquatic Centre
• $60,000 to renew the Dick Caplick Park, Eumundi basketball court
• $15,000 to renew Gowen Drive Park Landsborough Playground

  Community Facilities

• $1.94 million to continue the Caloundra Centre Activation project and design the Caloundra district library
• $800,000 to replace amenities building at the Mudjimba Beach Holiday Park
• $400,000 to progress the design of a library and community centre at Sippy Downs
• $500,000 to replace the Moss Day Pavilion roof at Nambour Showgrounds
• $500,000 to progress the concept planning and design of the Nambour Administration precinct
• $470,000 for the master planning of Mary Cairncross Ecological Park at Maleny to establish a council-wide destination recreation park/ecological parkland
• $350,000 to upgrade Nambour Equestrian Centre
• $300,000 to support the Nambour CBD Activation project
• $200,000 to upgrade the Kawana Library
• $150,000 towards planning for a major civic centre at Bells Creek
• $30,000 to design an upgrade to the amenities at QCWA Park, Landsborough
• $20,000 to repaint the external facade of the Heritage listed Bankfoot House building

  Coast, Canals and Waterways

• $1.1 million to continue the groyne replacement program at Cotton Tree Parade, Maroochydore
• $405,000 to renew revetment walls across the region
• $380,000 to renew beach access along the coastal areas

  Waste and Recycling

• $16.86 million to progress design and construction of the Landfill Expansion and Resource Recovery Centre at the Nambour waste precinct, Bli Bli,
• $11 million to begin the new Materials Recovery Facility, Bli Bli
• $4.5 million to design and construct infrastructure such as roads, utilities, services, stormwater and weighbridge to allow the further development and land use in the Nambour waste precinct, Bli Bli

2021/22 Minimum General Rate Notice

(60% of ratepayers are on the minimum general rate)

CHANGE IN RATES AND UTILITY CHARGES

*This calculation does not take into account the application of the pensioner concession, which will further reduce the rates payable by eligible ratepayers

ˆOn-time payment discount no longer applies