No Images? Click here
 
   
 

Living in Cairns Budget Special, 29 June 2015
 
 
 
 
 

From the Mayor...

I am pleased today to present Cairns Regional Council’s Budget for 2015-2016 - the last Budget for this Council and one that reflects the efforts of the past three years to strengthen Council’s financial position and the future fiscal sustainability of the organisation.

The vigilance and the determination to make our business cost-effective and efficient will result in a surplus of the order of $8 million for the 2014-2015 year, bringing the total surplus over the past two budget cycles to $15.5 million.

I would like to formally recognise that this result could not have been achieved without the commitment of every member of staff at Cairns Regional Council. I thank them for their diligence and commitment to achieve this outcome.

I invite you read on to learn more about this year's Budget and the benefits it will bring to our community.

Read the Mayor's Budget message in full

Mayor Bob Manning
 
 

The full suite of media releases plus the Budget Report and Statements are available to view on our website. 

View the 2015-16 Budget Snapshot
 
 
 

Balanced Budget, big investment

For the second consecutive year, Cairns Regional Council has achieved a surplus operating result and delivered a modest 1.5 per cent rates increase, while delivering a strong capital works program and community investment.

A $142 million capital works program includes the start of construction of The Precinct, comprising the new Cairns Performing Arts Centre and the Munro Martin Parklands; stage 1 of the Shields Street Heart project; completion of the Tobruk Memorial Pool redevelopment; and $36 million worth of road and transport improvements.

It also has a distinct focus on delivery of suburban projects, with 75 per cent of the roads and transport infrastructure budget to be spent in the suburbs. Read more
 
 

$142.7 Capital Works program

The Cairns community will reap the benefits of a $142.7 million capital works program that will improve roads and provide new and enhanced community infrastructure. 

The headline act is the construction of The Precinct, with $13 million committed in year one of a three-year program. Improvements to the Tanks Arts Centre worth $2.2 million will be implemented prior to the closure of the Civic Theatre in February.

Shields Street Heart Stage 1 is funded with $7.4 million to complete the Grafton Street – Lake Street component. 
Construction is due to start immediately after the October school holidays and is expected to take about six months.

A total $36 million will be spent on transport infrastructure, including roads and footpaths. Of this, 75 per cent will be spent on suburban projects. At Redlynch, the St Andrews Connection Road will improve access to the school and create safer traffic movement. This work will start after the next wet season.

Improving safety around schools has also been identified as a priority, with $300,000 allocated under the SAFEST (Safe School Travel) program. Read more
 
 
 

Sporting start

Three masterplanned sporting precincts will start to take shape during 2015-16, with the Walker Road, Alley Park and Martyn Street complexes to receive combined capital funding of $5.6 million in the next 12 months. These projects are among $20.2 million in sporting infrastructure improvements identified in the 2015-16 Budget with an aim of providing greater opportunities for people to get involved in sport.

With $12.2m allocated over three years, Edmonton’s Walker Road Sporting Precinct will initially become home to Cairns’ baseball and softball clubs, with other sports to be added to the mix in subsequent stages.

This financial year will bring the establishment of four diamonds for baseball and softball, plus road access, parking, amenities, sports lighting and walking paths. Eventually, there will also be three oval fields, two rectangular fields, multi-purpose courts and community recreation space.

The start of the Walker Road development opens the door for expansion of the netball facilities at the Martyn Street Sporting Reserve, where refurbishment of the clubhouse and improvements to parking and access will start in the next few months. Eight new courts will be created in subsequent stages.

Gordonvale's Alley Park will receive two additional fields to cater for junior and senior rugby league in the first stage of the park's expansion. In future years, netball courts, rectangular and oval fields, amenities and parking will be added. Read more
 
 
 

Rate reduction offsets rising values

A modest rate increase of 1.5 per cent is expected to again be among the lowest in Queensland. In handing down the 2015-16 Budget, Cairns Regional Council offset increased land values to replicate last year’s result of a 1.5 per cent general rate increase. The median residential land value in the Cairns region has risen by $20,000. Council has responded by reducing the rate in the dollar by up to 9 per cent in residential categories, including Strata.

A 1.5 per cent increase on the yearly minimum general rate equates to an increase of $12.47, which will apply to 25,137 residential and strata properties. Sewerage, cleansing and water charges will also increase by just 1.5 per cent, or a combined $20.05 for the year. Residential water usage charges will rise by two cents to $1.13 per kilolitre, or around $5 a year based on average household usage. 
 
 

Outdoor lifestyle embraced

Outdoor exercise equipment will be installed in a further three suburban parks during the next 12 months, as Council encourages residents to enjoy the tropical outdoors. More than $11 million will be spent on enhancing and maintaining local parks and playgrounds throughout the Cairns region. This includes mowing, maintenance of amenities and installation of new equipment.
Babinda’s Bill Wakeham Park, Edmonton’s Ravizza Park and Woodward Park at Edge Hill will have exercise stations installed over the next year and further funding has been committed for the next three years. Spending on parks and playgrounds renewal will increase to $770,000, with an emphasis on quality use of public space. Read more
 
 
 

Smart steps in water security plan

Cairns Regional Council will commence works this year to secure Cairns future water supply. The Water Security Implementation Plan (WSIP) identifies a preferred strategy for water management and infrastructure to ensure the water demands of a growing population can be met well into the future. More than $3.7 million will be spent this financial year on the initial stages of establishing new water supplies, as well as the introduction of technology to help manage water demand. A total of almost $38 million has been committed to progressing the WSIP over the next three years. Council is investing nearly $8 million over the next three years to develop and roll out a smart metering program that will provide real-time water usage readings to both consumers and Council. Read more
 
 

Funds for Gardens

Nearly $1.5 million will be spent on improvements to the Cairns Botanic Gardens, including the finishing touches on two major projects.
Named after Cairns’ Sister City, the Zhanjiang Chinese Friendship Gardens will be completed before the end of the calendar year with a Budget allocation of $840,000. 
Meanwhile, the Flecker Conservatory is nearing completion and a final allocation of $461,000 will ensure it becomes a star attraction of the gardens. 
 
 
 

Looking ahead

Long-term financial projections have confirmed that Cairns Regional Council’s recent track record of low rates increases is sustainable, even with some major infrastructure challenges thrown in.

Modelling taking into account a range of scenarios, including the successful development of Aquis, show Council can maintain a strong financial position without the need for large rate increases in the next 10 years.

A benchmarking project involving 15 of Queensland’s largest councils shows CRC’s debt per capita to be the second-lowest by direct comparison. Read more
 
 

Focus on pet ownership

Cairns Regional Council will embark on a major campaign to boost responsible pet ownership in the region. Six additional Local Laws officers will be employed to deal with complaints as they occur. More importantly, Council will be looking to address  the underlying reasons for complaints.

Two new fully-fenced off-leash dog agility parks will make it easier for owners to exercise and socialise their dogs safely. Read more
 
 
 
Cairns Regional Council
119 - 145 Spence St, Cairns
PO Box 359 
Cairns Q 4870
Cairns: +61 7 4044 304
You're receiving this newsletter because you have opted in to receive communications from Cairns Regional Council. You may unsubscribe at any time using the link below.