Message from the Mayor

Scenic Rim Regional Council’s $112 million 2023-2024 Budget represents a milestone in our ongoing journey towards becoming a more customer-focused organisation that values and responds to community feedback.

For the first time, our Budget has been developed in consultation with members of the Scenic community and Council appreciates all of the input received during the recent engagement process that has helped to inform our planning for 2023-2024 and beyond.

Our focus has been on continuing to build a strong future for the Scenic Rim and provide best value to ratepayers through the sound management of limited financial resources in the face of the current economic headwinds.

In line with the shared Community Plan vision for the Scenic Rim as an accessible and serviced region, roads and bridges, which are vital for the growth of our regional economy, are once again the major areas of our capital expenditure.

The 2023-2024 Budget provides capital expenditure of $13.04 million for roads, $9.74 million for bridges, $1.65 million for community facilities and $1.63 million for waste management.

This is in addition to the maintenance budget of $11.7 million allocated for roads, $6.6 million for facilities and $4 million for parks and landscaping, and the total operational expenses of $10.9 million for waste services, waste transfer stations and the Bromelton central waste landfill.

Scenic Rim’s 2023-2024 Budget has also been framed in the context of a number of challenges for our region. These include the continuing recovery from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of extreme weather events in recent years and increasing cost of living pressures, both for our organisation and our community.

Council is well aware of the impact of rising costs on local businesses and households and has attempted to minimise the financial burden on ratepayers, however we have heard from the consultations that our community is keen to keep pursuing our current range of services and are wanting more investment in recreational and sporting facilities.

Where possible, rates increases have been kept to a minimum. Overall, the General Rates and Community Infrastructure Charge will increase by an average of 7.9 percent as the increase in our operating, maintenance and capital expenses reflects the current Consumer Price Index of 7.4 per cent.

Residential principal places of residence, representing 62% of ratepayers, will see an average increase of 7.27%. Rates for 65% of these properties will increase by 7.4% or less. Rural principal places of residence, representing 7% of ratepayers, will see an average increase of 7.59%.

By focusing on cost recovery through fees and charges that apply a user-pays principle to services and facilities, we have aimed to minimise rates increases.

Now more than ever, our challenge is balancing the rates burden against fiscal responsibility to ensure sustainability and good governance as we continue to work to provide the highest levels of service delivery to meet community expectations and maintain vital public assets.

Thank you to everyone who, through their feedback, has helped shaped Council’s planning as we continue to build a strong future for our region.