Budget

Good morning Councillors, Council employees, people in the gallery, media, and those watching online via our live stream. 

Thank you for being here. 

I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of this land, the Bailai, the Gurang, the Gooreng Gooreng and the Taribelang Bunda people, and pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. 

Today, I am proud to be here alongside my fellow Councillors to adopt Gladstone Regional Council’s 2026/27 budget and Operational Plan, the third budget of the current Council term. 

This has been a thoughtful and well-considered budget, as we recognise the challenging economic environment facing many households and businesses across the region. 

As a Council, we are faced with the same cost pressures, including rising costs across construction, maintenance, materials and service delivery. 

However, we have made a concerted effort to reduce these impacts on our ratepayers. 

This year’s $441M budget is one that strengthens our community, invests in our future, avoids new debt, and delivers where it counts now, with the services and infrastructure our region relies on every day. 

This year, we focused on: 

• Reviewing our spending and identifying efficiencies to minimise impacts on ratepayers 
• Responsibly managing our waste services and our environment 
• Investing in community facilities and local lifestyle 
• Growing the region’s economy and exploring future opportunities for growth. 

Residents and visitors to our region will see our roads team out and about more often as they rebuild, repair and maintain our road network. 

Much of this work is a result of a significant amount of rainfall experienced in the region during March, and we have allocated $65M for roads and drainage maintenance activities this year. 

We have also received $13M in external funding from Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements from the Australian and Queensland Governments to assist with the restoration of various roads within the region. 

As previously mentioned, we have completed a comprehensive review of our spending and identified efficiencies to minimise impacts on ratepayers. 

Examples of this include moving some of our major events to every two years, with Luminous and PopCon to now be held on a biennial schedule. 

This approach will make sure these signature events remain sustainable, high-quality, affordable and enjoyable well into the future. 

Our commitment to reduce cost increases for ratepayers is also evident on Council’s bottom line, as we have deliberately kept this year’s surplus to just $48,000 to help keep rates, fees and charges as low as possible for ratepayers.

Another key decision in this year’s budget is the introduction of a land valuation averaging model to calculate rates. 

This model is good news for ratepayers as it helps smooth the impact of significant land valuation increases by the Queensland Valuer-General, following updated valuations issued in March for the Gladstone Region. 

Council’s valuation calculation will use averaging from the previous three years of valuations, so that ratepayers don’t feel the shock of these increases. 

While the way rates are calculated will vary between properties, this decision to implement a land valuation averaging model demonstrates our commitment to minimising this impact on ratepayers. 

I am very happy to say that Council has been able to keep the general rate increase to a minimum, with the average residential rate increasing by only 0.47%. 

Let me say that again – 0.47% – less than half a percent increase to the general rate. 

This means the average residential property will contribute only an additional 17 cents per week to support road maintenance, waste management, parks, community facilities and investment in local infrastructure. 

Commercial and light industrial properties will see a general rate increase of 4.5% and major industrial properties will see a 7% increase.  

As residents of Gladstone, Boyne Island, Tannum Sands and Calliope would be aware, three weeks ago we introduced a Garden Organics (GO) kerbside bin collection service for more than 17,000 residents within those suburbs. 

In fact, we’ve already seen a significant amount of green waste diverted from Benaraby Landfill in the 21 days since this service commenced. 

Continuing this process of converting green waste to a reusable product such as mulch saves on the costs of operating, constructing and maintaining landfills as a result of the Waste Levy, which is essentially a Bin Tax introduced by the Queensland Government. 

This bin tax applies to every tonne of waste received at Benaraby Landfill, so by diverting green waste away from landfill, we ultimately reduce costs for our ratepayers. 

Council will review the performance of the GO bin service after 12 months, including consideration of potential service refinements, future expansion opportunities and opt-out arrangements. 

This year, Gladstone Area Water Board (GAWB) has passed on an annual water security charge to all users within the Lake Awoonga Water Scheme to fund the ongoing operation and construction costs of the Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline. 

This is a charge that Council strongly advocated against and one that we believe our ratepayers should not be burdened with. 

However, we are grateful the Queensland Government has assisted us with $10M this year to offset this $13.2M charge. 

Without this assistance, the water security charge would have been more than $400 for ratepayers with a residential connection within the Lake Awoonga Water Scheme – now it is less than $72 this financial year. 

While this assistance from the Queensland Government is welcome, at this stage it is a one-off payment, and we will continue to advocate for a fair and long-term solution for our ratepayers.  

Council’s $441M budget includes a $143M Capital Works program, supported by $37.5M in Queensland and Australian Government funding. 

This further demonstrates Council’s effectiveness in seeking funding from other tiers of government, and importantly, not from ratepayers. 

The 2026/27 Capital Expenditure of $143M includes (but is not limited to): 

• $36.6M on upgrades to water and wastewater (sewerage) infrastructure 
• $30.6M on capital roads and drainage projects 
• $23.4M in sport and recreation projects 
• $17.6M on footpath and cycle upgrades 
• $11.1M on waste handling and disposal projects 
• $3.9M on bridge replacements and upgrades. 

Our increased investment in sport and recreation projects includes infrastructure to support the sporting aspirations of young people, particularly ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. 

These funds will deliver a 50m pool at Boyne Island and design of the Harvey Road Sports and Events Precinct.

Additionally, as part of our Community Investment Program, we have also topped up the Gladstone District Sports Foundation Trust by $50,000. 

This trust is separate to Council and was established by former Gladstone City Mayor Col Brown in 1987 to assist the region's best athletes to meet the costs of competing in high-level competition. 

The trust has supported hundreds of young local athletes across dozens of sports during its nearly 40-year history, and I look forward to seeing this $50,000 contribution assist our rising sports stars ahead of the Brisbane Olympics.  

I’m also happy to announce that Council will continue its ongoing commitment to ease cost-of-living pressures for our valued pensioners by increasing our annual pensioner concession. 

The pensioner concession will increase by $30 – from $320 to a maximum of $350 – in this budget . 

Council’s pensioner concession rebate is in addition to the Queensland Government, who provide a pensioner subsidy to a maximum of $200 per annum.

I’m also proud to declare for a 14th consecutive year – and my 11th as Mayor – that we have no new borrowings. 

This will see interest bearing debt decline to $67.6M by June 2027, a reduction of $6.7M. 

Overall, this budget supports the first Operational Plan to come out of Council’s new Corporate Plan (Our Vision 2026-2031) and, in a challenging economic environment, balances the needs of households, businesses and the broader community with the financial realities facing Council. 

We remain focused on delivering what matters most for a better every day and making sure the decisions we make grow our region with purpose. 

This budget reflects our collective vision and the priorities of our community – strong services, local opportunity and a region we are all proud to call home. 

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to making this budget possible. 

My fellow Councillors and I look forward to working together to serve the community in the region we call home, and I commend this budget to you all. 

Thank you. 

Mayor Matt Burnett

A: For the 2026/27 year, the average general residential rate will increase by 0.47%. This means the average residential property will contribute an additional 17c per week to support the delivery of road maintenance, waste management, parks, community facilities and investment in local infrastructure. While the way rates are calculated will vary between properties, across all residential and rural land categories, 65% of these properties will see an increase of less than 1%. 

A: We recognise that many households and businesses are feeling the impact of rising costs, and Council, too, is facing the same pressures with rising costs across construction, maintenance, materials and service delivery. Before finalising this budget, we carefully reviewed our spending, identified efficiencies and considered our options to help minimise the impact on ratepayers. 

A: The cost of delivering the services, facilities and infrastructure our community relies on increases over time. Like households and businesses, Council faces rising costs for fuel, materials, labour, insurance and equipment. We carefully manage these costs and work to minimise impacts on ratepayers while providing services and infrastructure and investing in the future of the Gladstone Region. 

Learn more about how your rates are calculated.

Water charges are also included in your annual rates notice. If your property uses more water, your water consumption charges may increase. 

To help residents and businesses better understand and manage their water use, Council is upgrading water meters across the region as part of a multi-year Advanced Water Metering Program. The new meters provide more timely and accurate water usage information, making it easier for customers to monitor their consumption and identify potential leaks or unusual water use sooner.  

A: Council’s annual Operational Plan and Budget outlines how we will deliver the ambitions and commitments set out in our five-year Corporate Plan. It provides a clear direction for how we serve our community, helping us prioritise services, communicate clearly, and make decisions people can understand and trust. 

Each year, councils prepare a Budget and supporting Operational Plan (one-year plan) to plan how community money will be spent and to ensure essential services continue to be delivered. The budget outlines Council’s expected income, including rates and fees, and how those funds will be used to maintain roads, parks, libraries, waste services, community facilities and other local services. 

Developing a yearly budget also helps Council plan for future projects and infrastructure and manage costs now and into the future. 

A: Council carefully considers how community funds should be spent to deliver the services, facilities and infrastructure our region needs. When setting spending priorities, Council considers factors such as service delivery costs, community needs, legislative requirements, risk management, available grant funding and economic conditions.  

The budget development process begins early each year, with senior leaders identifying the funding required for their areas. The Finance Team then brings this information together into a draft budget for review by Council’s Leadership Team, Councillors and the Mayor.  

Following several rounds of review and refinement, the final budget is presented to elected members for consideration, amendment and adoption.  

A: Your rates help fund a wide range of services, facilities and infrastructure that support our community every day. These include: 

• Roads, bridges, footpaths and drainage 
• Water and sewerage services  
• Parks, playgrounds and environmental management  
• Waste, recycling and garden organics collection  
• Aquatic centres and community facilities  
• Libraries, arts, culture and entertainment  
• Community development programs  
• Economic development and strategic projects  
• Development assessment and local laws  
• Pest management and environmental health  
• Emergency and disaster management. 

While you may not use every service or facility funded by your rates, your contribution helps to make sure these services are available in the Gladstone Region. 

A: Your rates are calculated by applying Council’s annual rate in the dollar to the average value of your property, then adding any applicable service charges such as water, sewerage and waste. The rate in the dollar is determined by dividing the total revenue needed to deliver services and infrastructure across the Gladstone Region by the combined value of all rateable properties. 

In 2026/27, Council has applied a new land valuation averaging model to calculate rates. 

A: In 2026/27, Council has applied a land valuation averaging model to calculate rates. This model is good news for ratepayers as it helps smooth the impact of significant valuation increases by the Queensland Valuer-General following updated valuations issued in March 2026. 

Council’s valuation calculation will use averaging from the previous three years of valuations, so that ratepayers don’t feel the shock of these increases. 

While the way rates are calculated varies between properties, this decision to implement a land valuation averaging model demonstrates our commitment to minimising this impact on ratepayers. 

A: Following the Queensland Government’s decision to construct the Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline, the Gladstone Area Water Board (who own and manage the pipeline) are passing on a water security charge to all users of the Lake Awoonga Water Scheme to fund the ongoing operation and construction costs of the pipeline. Council has strongly advocated against this charge and maintains that our ratepayers should not be left with the burden of these costs. Council has, however, received $10M in Queensland Government assistance towards the $13.2M water security charge. This funding will help ease the financial impact of this charge; however, the remaining cost is passed on to Lake Awoonga Water Scheme users, which means residents connected to the Lake Awoonga Water Scheme will pay $71.81 this financial year for a residential connection. While the contribution from the Queensland Government is welcome, at this stage it is a one-off payment, and Council will continue to advocate for a fair, long-term solution.