Draft 2023-2024 Budget

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

Community consultation allowed members of the community to get a better understanding of the financial parameters Scenic Rim Regional Council must operate within to deliver the many services to the community. The community were offered the opportunity to complete their feedback online and via the hardcopy feedback form on Let's Talk Scenic Rim. Feedback was accepted by Council during the community consultation period of 5 April to 3 May 2023.

Council held three community consultation sessions across the region (Boonah, Beaudesert and Tamborine Mountain) in April 2023 and was attended by over 50 community members, with a further 73 attending via the livestream option. Council received 38 feedback submissions, over 1,700 people viewed the Budget project page via Let's Talk Scenic Rim and over 500 documents were downloaded from the platform.

If you were unable to join us in person at these sessions, all three sessions were streamed live and recorded. We invite you to watch the community consultation sessions online through this link. Alternatively, you can find these individual links under the 'News and Announcements' section on the righthand side of this page.

The feedback received covered a range of topics including suggestions for improved recreational infrastructure, changing priorities within the budget, and questions about how the rating systems work. Other ideas included suggested improvements for community pools and more funding for roads and footpaths.

Submitters were invited to present at Council's Ordinary Meeting on 9 May 2023, and we would like to thank the nine community members who took the time to come along and share their feedback in person.

Council considered all feedback which informed the Community Budget Report which highlights the outcomes of the draft budget consultation. Please see the Budget Summary Flyer and the adopted Scenic Rim Regional Council 2023-2024 Budget within the 'key documents' section on this page. The 2023-2024 Budget was adopted at the Special Meeting of Council on 19 June 2023.

Council's 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.

Aware of the current economic impacts on businesses and households, Council has worked to minimise its increases in the General Rates and Community Infrastructure Charge.

Although the overall rates revenue increase will be 7.9 per cent, rates for 65 per cent of residential principal places of residence will see an increase, in line with the current Consumer Price Index, of 7.4 per cent or less.

Rates for typical residential principal place of residence properties on the minimum general rate, with a valuation of less than $228,845 will increase by $81 in 2023-2024 to $1,244. Combined with the $50 rise in the community infrastructure charge, the total increase will be $131, to $1,794 equating to a $2.52 a week increase.

Rates for typical rural principal place of residence properties, on the minimum general rate, and which have a valuation of less than $314,222, will increase by $91 in 2023-2024 to $1,381. With the $50 rise in the community infrastructure charge, the total increase will be $141, to $1,931, equating to a $2.71 a week increase.

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.

We look forward to planning the next year's budget again with community input to support Council's ongoing journey towards becoming a more customer-focused organisation that values and responds to community feedback.