2022-23 Budget highlights

Brisbane's CPI is presently at 6.0 per cent and, in line with the last decade, Council has kept the rates rise to below CPI endorsing a 4.3 per cent rise in the minimum general rate. Some of the service charges have increased slightly in line with inflation and we are mindful that many properties have enjoyed an escalation in land value that flows through to the rates charged. Rates are based on unimproved land value and to minimise the impact, the land value is averaged over a three year period. Should anyone experience difficulty in meeting their payment obligations, I urge immediate contact with Council so that a payment plan can be put in place. Officers will be happy to assist in preparing a payment plan for you.

The City Budget sets aisde the funds necessary to continue looking after families, small business and the growing population.

Mindful that small business accounts for about 95 per cent of business on the Gold Coast, we’ll continue to support policies giving our local spend to local businesses. About $400 million a year to keep jobs ticking over.

Discount remains

Importantly we’ve again protected the 10 per cent discount. There was a push to start chipping away at the discount – but we know the people love it and expect it. Our biggest fear was that the push to remove it from investment properties would see it filter through to the most vulnerable, our renters, for whom every dollar counts.

Higher focus on regulation

As part of our budget deliberations, Council has supported additional officers to protect our amenity and the community.

Public and Environmental Health gets a $15 million injection with four additional Animal Control Officers endorsed to ensure responsible pet ownership; Nine new Parking Officers to patrol our streets, especially around school precincts, to ensure compliance, and two new Environmental Health Officers to investigate potential breaches.

Remember, if you do the right thing, you’ll never receive a fine.

Support for community groups

An officer will be appointed in a 12 month trial to support community groups in advocacy for projects and attracting grant funding and community centres receive $11.62 million.

Roads and transport

Congestion is always a concern and there’s $136 million in road network improvements and $98 millon in transport improvements across the city.

Review of entities

Council commits millions of dollars each year to market the city through Destination Gold Coast and attract events to the city through Major Events Gold Coast, Placemakers and HOTA.

Funding has been allocated for a review of all of the Council-controlled entities and also not for profit groups with multi-year funding agreements with Council. We want to ensure that ratepayer funds are being appropriately directed to achieve the best possible outcome for the city, its residents and traders.

Greenheart

Significant funding also kicks in for the incredible Greenheart project – a 241 hectare site in the centre of the city which will provide much needed open space and recreational facilities for the additional 312,000 anticipated to make the Gold Coast home over the next 20 years.

Upgrades and improvements

Good news for our area with priority funding this year for footpaths (especially around schools), sporting facility upgrades and park improvements. A good share of Whole of City funding has also been attracted.

Highlights for Division 3

• Design will commence on the refurbishment of the timber pedestrian boardwalk along the northern bank of the Coomera River, under Heathwood Drive.
• There is $585,000 allocated for minor upgrade and line-marking of the Shipper Drive - Foxwell Road roundabout in advance of the major work to be done by the State as part of the Coomera Connector.
• At long last we’ll see the signals completed at Foxwell and Amity Road, from the $2.4 million allocated last year and another $1 million during 2022-23. This project has been delayed due to the State changes to the Coomera Connector.
• Work is underway on $1.5 million in safety improvements in the vicinity of Upper Coomera State College for walking/cycling to school including new shared paths on Ascendancy Way and west-side of Brygon Creek Road together with crossing and parallel parking on Ascendancy Way and Roe Street. Design will soon be finalised, and the path delivered about this time next year.
• A shared path at $350,000 on Glenshee Street Upper Coomera.
• Various drainage works over the next three years at Upper Coomera and Coomera, including Cardwell Street, Diamond Sand Drive, Goldcrest Drive, Bellagio Crescent and Lorenzo Drive to improve infrastructure and drainage.
• $242,000 this year in improvements at Coomera State School including pedestrian refuges, path, kerb ramps and splitter islands.
• $1.2 million over three years to construct missing paths, a new bus slab and shelter adjacent to Coomera Springs State School, including improved pedestrian access ramps. Other schools in focus are Highland Reserve, where the next two years will deliver improved footpath east side between the school and the community centre and adjacent to Upper Coomera State College, the intersection of Brygon Creek Road/Jessica Drive and Reserve Road is scheduled for 2025-26.
• $1.5 million for road reconstruction Jowett Street Coomera over three years and forward funding of $1.66 million over two years for improvements to Foxwell Road between Amity Road and Ragamuffin Drive Coomera.
• $13 million over 3 years for Old Coach Road/Reserve Road improvements and $4.1 million over three years for signals at Foxwell Road/Learning Street to improve sight distances on the curve of Foxwell Road, adding bike lanes and pedestrian improvements.

Planning & design

Our budget process means that planning and design are necessary well in advance of construction – and I'm pleased to see the Pimpama West Service Road progressing through the process after being raised several years ago. This year we supported $21 million over the next three years which will see the project delivered.

Over $120 million is in the four-year capital works program for the Coomera Civic Hub which will deliver the very first regional library/cultural facility for the City. 10 per cent of new residents to the Gold Coast to 2041 will settle at Coomera and these facilities will be vital to our growing community.

Coomera Indoor Sports Centre will have funds allocated to improve the equipment and building every year over the next four years.

Importantly, Parks Gold Coast is proceeding with consultation on the improved Viney Park Masterplan for which $4.5 milion is budgeted over the next three years, as well as $6.5 million for the Kerkin Road Adventure Playground. This one has been signed off for years but is not scheduled for delivery until 24-25.

The Oxenford Pony Club funding of $950,000 has been carried forward to provide a new home for the Club given the erosion of the existing site at Charlie’s Crossing.

The Divisional budget has been increased to $975,000 annually and those funds have been prioritised to deliver shade over play equipment, the park upgrade at Rosemallow Park, footpaths at Upper Coomera on Lauren Grove-Eliena Way and Lauren Grove-Ghostgum Grove-Riverbrooke Drive and Old Coach Road, Kondalilla Drive to Gannon Way, together with Brougham Drive to Hans Street to Days Road.

An allocation has also been listed for a playground at Wongawallan, but this may need to be funded over two financial years.

Our area will benefit from beautification at the intersection of Dreamworld Parkway and Yaun Street where fairy lights will be installed, and design work is to be undertaken for the adjacent Coomera Colts Clubhouse.

At Coomera Sports Park, Coomera Magpies will see new lighting and canteen improvements. The Northern Touch Club verandah has also been funded.

Community events

I will continue to support Anzac Day for both the RSL and Coomera Valley Rotary so that across Division 3 we can continue to pay our respect to those who have served and those who continue to serve.

Other community events will include Xmas Carols at Highland Reserve, New Year’s Eve at Viney Park and a special northern Swell Festival yet to be confirmed.

Funding

There is never sufficient funding to cover all that we need in our rapidly growing area, but I hope I have responded to the most pressing requests during my recent consultation – the delivery of paths – which far outweighed other suggested improvements.

Traffic congestion remains an issue, but the State Government must focus on improved access to and from the M1 so that the local road network flows more smoothly. Council has invested $234 million for local road network and transport improvements. 

Your feedback is important

Please continue to put forward your suggestions via 5581 6598 or email. Every single suggestion is incorporated into a file for consideration in the lead-up to each year’s budget discussions.

As can be seen – it takes some time to get projects up and running and much of my earlier work can be evidenced further to the north, but I’m doing my best to escalate the projects I know are important here and now.

I look forward to your continued feedback and also take this opportunity to thank you all for the contribution you’ve made and continue to make to northern Gold Coast.

Disclaimer

While care has been taken to ensure that information contained in this newsletter is correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances may impact on the information provided.

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