The Southern Downs Regional Council last week released its 2019-2020 ‘budget media package’ detailing its revenue raising and spending plans for the next financial year.
In her opening introduction, mayor Tracy Dobie said the new budget “presents the lowest rates increase since Southern Downs Regional Council was amalgamated in 2008, with an increase of only two per cent for general rates and 2.75 per cent increase of utility charges for water, wastewater and waste collection services”.
“Projected rates increases in the Long Term Financial Forecast remain at three per cent, indicating the council intends to continue restricting expenditure,” Cr Dobie said.
“The budget forecasts a moderate operating surplus of $95,000 as well as a further reduction of council debt by $1.3 million.
“The council is in a solid position financially which helps to support a range of community programs including the Community Grants Program.
“The 7.5 per cent discount for early payment of general rates will remain, as well as the subsidy on the General Rates for pensioners.
“To assist our ratepayers in this current time of drought, the council is extending its payment terms, including its early payment discount period, from 30 days to 60 days for the 2019-20 Financial Year.”
Major capital projects for 2019-2020 include the following:
· Extension of footpath along McGlew Street and Quart Pot Creek – $645,000.
· Extension of footpath from Quart Pot Creek to Maryland Street – $833,000.
· B-double access from East Street – $790,000.
· Bourkes Road Bridge upgrade – $652,000.
· Construction of new waste transfer station for Stanthorpe – $2.3 million.
· Mini golf facility.
· Dagg’s Falls Lookout.
Highlights from the budget media package…
CEMETERIES
A total of $427,000 has been budgeted for operating and maintenance costs for the region’s cemeteries.
FUNDING TO COMMUNITY
Council has again committed its support to local groups and organisations through community funding programs including Community Grants, Events Grants and Fast Response Small Grants to the sum of $488,325.
LIBRARIES
In recognition of the ongoing high use of Southern Downs Regional Libraries, Council continues its commitment to funding library services with $188,000 allocated to the purchase of new books.
MAJOR EVENTS
Council will again invest in a number of major events held in the region, including Jumpers and Jazz in July Festival, Warwick Rodeo, Snowflakes in Stanthorpe Winter Festival, Stanthorpe Apple & Grape Harvest Festival and the Historic Leyburn Sprints with a total commitment of $70,000.
PARKS
A total of $80,000 to renew parks furniture across the region has been allocated in the Budget. Council places a strong emphasis on the amenity and livability of the region, as well as providing safe outdoor areas, public spaces and play equipment for children and families.
PEST MANAGEMENT
Council has budgeted $1.63M for pest management operations throughout the region, including $97,500 for replacing a section of the wild dog fence and $15,000 for the control of feral deer. Council will continue paying bounties for wild dogs to assist in the control of these animals as well as $30,000 for wild dog baiting.
ROADS AND BRIDGES
In 2019-2020, Council will spend $15.28M on roads, bridges, drainages and footpaths ensuring safer roads for all users. Major projects include $2.2M to replace Palmer Bridge at Freestone, $790,000 for a transport link on East Street in Warwick and $3.23M to replace Councils plant and fleet. The Budget also contains $1M for gravel re-sheeting and $1M for re-sealing of roads throughout the region.
SUPPORTING ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE
Council recognises the importance of a vibrant local arts community, and the 2019-20 Budget will support local arts, culture and heritage with a budget allocation of $385,000.This amount includes funding of $380,000 towards the operation and maintenance of the Warwick and Stanthorpe Art Galleries and $5,000 for the Stanthorpe Museum.
WATER SERVICES
The Budget dedicates a total of $4.03M to the upgrade of water facilities in the region. Major projects include $1M allocated to the water trunk main construction at Storm King Dam, $747,000 for Connolly Dam repair works and $742,000 to investigate new water bores and repair existing ones.
WASTEWATER SERVICES
Council has allocated a total of $7.13M to the upgrade of wastewater facilities in the region. Major projects include $5.96M to extend the recycled water network within Warwick, $304,000 to upgrade the Market Square wastewater pump station in Warwick as well as a number of other smaller projects scheduled to be carried out across the region.
WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Waste Management Services will receive $3.1M to upgrade waste management facilities in the region. Major projects include $2.3M to construct a new transfer station within the region, $250,000 to construct a new waste facility cell and design a new leachate to sewer for Warwick and $150,000 for the Stanthorpe Waste Facility for batter profiling and capping.
Road matters, too
Southern Downs councillors at their Special Meeting held on Tuesday 3 June to adopt the 2019-2020 budget voted in favour of allocating $195,000 for the sealing of Washpool Road between the Leslie Dam Washpool Reserve and Glenvale Road.
The recommendation was a ‘standalone’ item on the agenda for reasons which are unclear, but Cr Rod Kelly declared a ‘real conflict of interest’ in the matter for the following reasons, as stated in the minutes of the meeting –
“…he owns property on the unsealed portion of Washpool Road between Warner Street and Washpool/Glen Road; and his brother-in-law is the property owner of the parcels of land along the entire section of Washpool Road under consideration for sealing from Washpool/Glenvale Roads to Saddledam Road, and dealt with the real conflict of interest by leaving the meeting room, taking no part in the debate or decision on the matter”.
Reasons given for the need for the resealing in the report prepared by council officers were that “in the event of a flood, Leslie Dam Road and Warner Street become impassable and this road is the only way to evacuate the camping area”, cost of past maintenance and gravelling and that the road carries a traffic volume of some 200 vehicle movements per day.
