By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Regional Council’s budget for the 2022/23 financial year shows residents will be faced with a rate rise and increased water and waste costs.
SDRC passed the budget at an Ordinary Council Meeting on 27 June, proclaiming it a “no frills” approach.
Reports included in the meeting’s agenda outlined an average rise of 3.85 per cent for general rates, as well as an increase of 1.5 per cent in the price of water and a 10 per cent rise in waste costs.
The new waste management charges will costs every household $446 per annum according to documents presented at the meeting.
Homes needing additional collection services will now incur $268 for each general waste bin and $178 for recycling bins.
Landfill access charges have also doubled, from $30 to $60.
The waste fees outlined in the budget show that residents will now be able to opt-out of the controversial bin expansion scheme. Some dump sites will also see reduced hours.
General fees and charges throughout the region are also set to rise, with an average rise of three per cent.
The budget also stipulates that residents who pay their rates and other charges by the due date will be entitled to a discount of 7.5 per cent, while overdue rates will incur interest of 8.17 per cent per annum.
The financial report, tabled at the meeting, shows that SDRC has $76.3 million in cash at the bank and through investments but $16.5 million in outstanding loans.
SDRC reported operational revenue of $84.6M, which is $2.5M over budget compared to the YTD budget of $82.1M.
SDRC reported an operational expenditure of $73.4M which is $10.3M under budget compared to the YTD budget of $83.6M.
Cr Stephen Tancred spoke to the budget in the meeting, stating that he wanted to make two key points.
He stated that while the price of water has risen substantially, they are covering the rise in a connection fee.
“This is to openly send a price signal to reward water conservation and should result in average water users having just a modest cost increase, but water-conscious ratepayers having no rise or a small decrease in their overall water costs.”
“Large water users will pay more and it will be more in line with what it is required to allow us to fund system upgrades,” he said.
Cr Tancred stated that our water costs are still some of the cheapest in SouthEast Queensland. He however said that this cannot go on forever, referencing the Toowoomba to Warwick pipeline project.
He then spoke about the waste fees outlined in the budget.
“The small increases in waste access fees and the equalisation in bin costs across the region are all part of getting the garbage business in order,” he said.
Cr Tancred stated that “we have obligations to the current generation to maximise recycling right now.”
“We have financial obligations to our future generations to not leave any environmental or financial time bombs for future ratepayers.”
