Paying 7% more for extra $213m in work

5th August 2008

By Kallee Buchanan

AS Bundaberg Regional Council released its "difficult and challenging" 2008/09 budget, residents prepared for the hard task of budgeting for rates increases. "I didn't realise they were going up it would make life a bit more difficult," resident Aaron Cislowski said.

Most ratepayers will see an increase in general rates of at least 7%, though around 9% of ratepayers will see increases of more than 10%.

Mayor Lorraine Pyefinch said the budget would also include a record $213 million in expenditure, as well as increases in water consumption charges and the introduction of a minimum general rate.

"I suppose that's where the sting in the tail will come, because we are increasing our water consumption fee by 20c per kilolitre (in the former Bundaberg City area) but ... we are still well and truly underneath what other councils are charging," Cr Pyefinch said.

Twenty new rates categories will be introduced to match like properties with like regardless of where they are in the newly-created council region.

"We're trying to get a balance in there this is the first step towards trying to get that equity between all the four areas," Cr Pyefinch said.

Cr Pyefinch also identified the Bundaberg Airport upgrade as council's priority, pumping an extra $7 million into the project and bringing the total cost to $22 million.

Chief executive officer Peter Byrne said the increase was partly due to the "skyrocketing" cost of bitumen for the runway and also to pay for infrastructure to prepare for the new terminal.

Sewerage works around the region will receive upgrades, with $30.1 million on finalising the Bargara and Childers Sewage Treatment Plants, and an upgrade of the Gin Gin main pump station.

Council has also set aside funding to investigate providing sewerage to Moore Park, Burnett Heads and the coastal southern areas between Bargara and Elliott Heads.

Along with sewerage works, roads in the region also received a boost, with an increase in the roads maintenance budget of 30%.

Councillor Wayne Honor, Roads and drainage spokesman, said some of the funding from the aborted Turtle Interpretive Centre would be used to upgrade the park near the timber bridge at Smiths Crossing Road, which would be replaced.

"I think that's a big win for that community," he said.

He said work to seal Raines Road would also begin in this budget year.

Other projects in the budget are a scoping study of silting at the Elliott River mouth, a recycling service for Childers and repainting of Bundaberg Arts Centre.

Council has also opted to offer pensioners a 10% discount, or a maximum $70, in all areas except the former Isis Shire, where the maximum will be $170 this year, $120 next year and reaching parity in 2010/11.