Toowoomba Regional Council today (June 6) adopted its 2023-24 Budget, Operational Plan and Revenue Statement.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said Council's $651 million financial plan would maintain and upgrade existing services and facilities while planning for a brighter future for current and successive generations.
"The Budget, which is the largest adopted by Council, reflects the priorities outlined in the Operational Plan (for the 2023-24 financial year) and Council's Corporate Plan (2019-2024, which is being updated)," Mayor Antonio said.
"Council remains committed to implementing a responsible and calculated financial approach in its Budget planning and delivery.
"We have a responsibility to plan for maintenance and upgrades to our existing infrastructure to guarantee the long-term viability of essential services to residents.
"Fortunately, Council's solid financial footing has allowed us to develop a $201 million capital program along with an operating Budget component of $450 million.
"A capital allocation of $109.08 million for asset renewal in this Budget emphasises Council's strong focus on investing in infrastructure renewal programs across our extensive water, wastewater and road networks, plus other community assets, to look after what we have built in the past.
"Council has a legal and moral obligation to maintain its existing infrastructure and our ability to manage our $5.6 billion asset base across 13,000km² is a key performance indicator by which we are judged by the Queensland Audit Office and, more broadly and ultimately, the Queensland Parliament.
"In addition, $68.45 million is set aside for upgrade projects, while $23.86 million has been allocated for new capital projects across the Region.
"Inflationary conditions that continue to influence national and global economies are a reminder of the need for cautious and considered financial planning.
"Just as families and businesses are keeping close tabs on their spending and finances generally, we at Council face similar challenges across all our operations.
"Council is balancing funding reductions from the state and federal governments, rising material costs, external and internal labour shortages while community expectations keep rising.
"Despite many external demands, Council continues to work in accordance with our long-term financial sustainability parameters to ensure we budget for essential capital works and services that support our communities in the coming year and into the future.
"Council's overall operational and capital expenditure parameters are based on our 10-year Long Term Financial Forecast (LTFF), which is not only adopted by Council, but overseen by the Department of Local Government, the Queensland Treasury Corporation and Queensland Audit Office."
For full details of the 2023-24 Budget, please visit www.tr.qld.gov.au/budget
2023-24 Budget highlights
- A $651 million Budget.
•A 4% increase to the general rate (net overall increase in rates and charges of 3.81% for an urban residential property. The majority of urban residential ratepayers will have an increase of $129.23 a year, or $2.49 a week, after discount, which includes all rates and charges, including water and wastewater charges.).
•Operational (service delivery) expenditure of $450 million.
•A capital (infrastructure) program of $201 million.
In the coming year, the major areas of capital expenditure will include:
• $7.50 million for community services and facilities
• $16.35 million for parks and recreation projects
• $15.72 million for business strategy and operations
• $68.96 million for roads, drainage, footpaths and bikeways
• $5.62 million for waste services
• $12.82 million for wastewater projects
• $74.43 million for water projects
Infrastructure
• Flood damage restoration will be the major focus of the Infrastructure Services Group
• $48.6 million committed to capital infrastructure projects across the Toowoomba Region
• $4.0 million TIDS Project to complete the sealing of the road between Crows Nest and Blackbutt
• $2.0 million for Kuhls Road, Highfields rehabilitation
• Almost $1 million committed to renewing, upgrading and constructing footpaths including in many regional towns
• Planning and designing of active transport projects in Toowoomba, Oakey and Highfields
• Upgrading bus stops to meet Queensland Government disability compliance
Water and Waste
• $20 million to start construction of safety upgrade at Cressbrook Dam to ensure compliance with State Government requirements
• $10.3 million committed to the continuation of the Mt Kynoch Water Treatment Plant Upgrade
• $8 million for the continued replacement of the Perseverance raw water trunk main
• $8 million for the continued roll out of Smart Water Meters across the Region
• $5 million allocated for new trunk water mains in the Highfields and Meringandan areas to cater for future growth
• $3 million for preliminary works for the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline, including investigations into a Greenmount and Southern water treatment plant
• $5.6 million invested in capital projects for Waste
• $4.5 million committed for the continued upgrade of the Southern Region Waste Management Facility
Environment and Community Services
• $300,000 in the coming financial year (out of a $865,000 project) to replace the Oakey Showgrounds pavilion and toilets
• $125,000 to replace cameras through our Community Safety and Asset Protection Program
• $225,000 for SES building renewals for Clifton and Goombungee
• $570,000 for the Carly Hibbard District Park upgrade
• $1.32 million for the Emmerson Park upgrade
• $1.05 million for the Toowoomba Escarpment Parks Upgrade project
2023-24 General Rate increase
4 %
Historical General Rate decisions
Year Decision
2022-23 2.5%
2021-22 2.5%
2020-21 2.5%
2019-20 2.5%
2018-19 3.0%
2017-18 3.0%
2016-17 3.0 %
2015-16 3.0 %
2014-15 4.06 %
2013-14 4.5 %
2012-13 4.95 %
2011-12 4.38 %
2010-11 8.45 %
Financial position
- The Queensland Treasury Corporation has maintained Council's credit rating as Sound with a Neutral Outlook.
Going into the 2023-24 financial year, Council is forecasting an operating surplus of $1.1 million.
Caption: (top) Toowoomba Regional Council's Finance and Business Strategy portfolio leader Cr Kerry Shine (left), Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio, Council's General Manager of Finance and Business Strategy Ann-Marie Johnston and TRC Deputy Mayor and Finance and Business Strategy Committee chair Cr Geoff McDonald following the adoption of Council's 2023-24 Budget.
(Middle) Mayor Paul Antonio (left) and Deputy Mayor Cr Geoff McDonald after the adoption of Toowoomba Regional Council's largest Budget, a $651 million financial plan.
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