General News
24 July, 2024
Cloncurry Shire Council passes moderate rates increase
Mayor Greg Campbell says the council is aware of the cost-of-living pressure facing families.
Cloncurry Shire mayor Greg Campbell says the three per cent rate increase in the 2024-25 budget considered rising cost of living pressures with community expectations around service delivery amid a growing local population.
Cr Campbell said the council had attempted to keep rates and charges as low as possible while also driving new projects to improve livability across the shire.
“Cost of living pressure is at the forefront of everyone’s minds at present,” he said after the council passed the budget at last week’s special meeting.
“We’ve been able to hit the three per cent target and maintain a balanced budget through driving efficiencies in our operations, modest but sustained population growth, our continued success in attracting external funding from the state and Commonwealth governments and through the continued strength of the mining and agricultural sectors.”
The council also announced a three pre cent increase to water, sewer and waste charges.
Cr Campbell said the $60.3 million capital works program would ensure the remaining items on council’s priority project list could be delivered, according to its 2021-26 plan.
Planning and design for several council priority projects, including upgrades to the Cloncurry Water Treatment Plant and Cloncurry Airport are set for completion by the end of the calendar year.
Cr Campbell said the budget laid the groundwork for finalisation of all priority projects by the 2026 deadline.
“These once-in-a-generation projects will have a significant impact on our community and so require a great deal of thought-out planning to ensure they deliver on our vision for the shire,” he said.
The mayor said the council budget focused on community projects that would attract families and drive economic growth across the shire, which were highlighted by key projects such as construction of the Curry Kids Early Learning Centre, the Perkins Street housing development and installation of 100kVa solar at the Cloncurry Swimming Pool.
He said there was also a focus on supporting elderly residents, with a number of services now available at no cost to seniors, including free swimming pool entry, dog registration for de-sexed/microchipped dogs and bus hire for events and outings.
With Cloncurry serving as a regional transport hub, Cr Campbell said the $36.5m allocation for the road and transport program was essential to ensuring council continued to invest in maintenance and improvements along key network corridors.
“It is encouraging to see Cloncurry council continuing to secure State and Federal Government funding for local road and transport projects as this ensures every ratepayer dollar is leveraged as efficiently as possible,” he said.
The council also announced it had also lowered its landing charges for light aircraft, which Cr Campbell said would benefit the local flight school, general aviation, and helicopter servicing arrangements.