Southern Downs residents have 15 days to give feedback on the council’s 2024-25 draft budget, which was released after a special meeting on Wednesday 12 June at the Warwick council chambers.
Mayor Melissa Hamilton said a proposed new rating system aimed to create a more equitable rates system in the Southern Downs. The changes to the system followed a review by local government rating specialist AEC Group late last year.
The general minimum rate for residential ratepayers is set to remain unchanged. Overall, the rates increase proposed is 2.5 per cent, sitting below the CPI increase of 3.4 per cent and the council’s own cost index rise of 3.9 per cent.
But there is a sting in the tail, with a jump of 9.5 per cent in water, and 3.5 per cent increases for waste and wastewater. This reflects a price path exercise being followed by the council to bring the services up to full cost recovery over a period of years.
Waste and wastewater are an important part of the budget, with a proposed upgrade of the Stanthorpe wastewater treatment plan costing around $33 million and a new landfill cell mooted for the region at a cost of about $6 million.
The capital program is tipped to be $47.5 million for the 2024-25 year, with an operational surplus of $914,000.
The 2024/25 draft budget is available online for review at www.sdrc.qld.gov.au/living-here/have-your-say. Hard copies are available at the council administration buildings and libraries.
How to submit your feedback – through an online form via the council’s Have Your Say page on sdrc.qld.gov.au, by email mail@sdrc.qld.gov.au or by handing in paper submissions at the council’s administration centres (Warwick or Stanthorpe). Community submissions close at 5pm on Friday 28 June.
