Budget’s forward focus on improving region’s liveability and sustainability

Council has adopted an Operational Plan and $369.1M Budget for 2025/26 focussed on service delivery to meet the needs and challenges facing our community both now and into the future.

This year’s theme – Proudly delivering results – is built on the foundations we have set in previous years and has a deliberate focus on essential services, responsible financial and environmental management and collaboration with all levels of government to ensure the Gladstone Region remains a great place to live, work, invest and play.

Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett said this budget has been developed with the long term in mind and provides a solid foundation for the region's future.

“We have focused on striking the balance between ensuring that our community has access to reliable infrastructure across our roads, water and sewerage networks, while ensuring our open spaces and community facilities meet the needs of our growing community,” Mayor Burnett said.

“We will continue to increase investment in our community pride initiatives with the focus on our parks, road verges, and drainage areas ensuring they are maintained at a service level that makes the community proud to call our region home.

“Council will invest $21.4M in the maintenance and operation of our parks across the region, while $28.4M has been set aside for road maintenance and drainage activities.”

During this financial year, Council will begin moving towards the introduction of a ‘Garden Organics’ (GO) kerbside bin service.

“I’m excited to announce that we are putting the necessary infrastructure and operational agreements in place to ensure all residents have access to a GO bin from 1 July 2026,” Mayor Burnett said.

“To assist with this process, we are calling on the Queensland Government to support the infrastructure and the operational costs associated with this positive move for our region’s waste management efforts through the Resource Recovery Boost fund.

“We are also calling on the Queensland Government to reinstate and continue the full waste levy payments to regional councils, and revise what are currently unachievable waste diversion targets for regional councils.”

Council’s $369.1M budget includes a Capital Works program of $105M that has received support by both State and Federal Governments to the value of $27M, bringing the total amount of external funding received to $41.7M.

The 2025/26 Capital expenditure of $105M includes (but not limited to):

$51.9M on upgrades to water and wastewater (sewerage) infrastructure
$17.7M on capital roads and drainage projects
$10.88M in sport and recreation projects
$5.5M on bridges replacements and upgrades
$2.3M on waste disposal projects
$1.2M on footpath and cycle upgrades.

Council has continued its commitment to financial responsibility by achieving a 13th consecutive budget with no new borrowings.

This responsible approach will see interest bearing debt decline to $74.3M by June 2026, a reduction of $6.4M.

Council’s steadfast commitment to supporting the unique needs of pensioners will also continue, offering eligible pensioners a concession of up to $320 per annum.

“This assistance for our pensioners represents an investment of $1M by Gladstone Regional Council,” Mayor Burnett said.

“In addition, the State Government pensioner concession provides for a maximum of $200.”

Council has kept its general rates low with an average residential rate increase of 2.51 per cent, while commercial and light industrial land uses will see a four per cent increase in the general rate, with major industrial land uses seeing a five per cent increase.

The overall rate increase for the average residential rate payer with water and wastewater connections and a residential bin service is 4.05 per cent.

Council is continuing to implement a user-pays pricing model for service charges, with differentiated rates for residential, state-owned, and major industrial users.

A similar pricing structure has been applied to water access and consumption charges.

Visit www.gladstone.qld.gov.au/budget to learn more about Council’s 2025/26 Operational Plan and Budget.

Download this media release (PDF)