General News
21 July, 2025
Modest rate rise in ‘sensible’ budget
A MODEST 3% rate rise has been handed down by the Mareeba Shire Council following the adoption of the 2025-26 Budget at a special meeting last week.
Unlike some surrounding councils, which have raised rates by between 5-8 %, Mareeba has taken a “sensible” approach, according to Mayor Angela Toppin.
This meant residential urban properties would face an average rate increase of $2.29 a week, and would continue to benefit from prompt payment discounts and pensioner concessions.
Water access, sewerage access, wheelie bin and waste facilities charges had increased by a combined $73.50 per year, or $1.41 per week. Water usage charges went up by just 3c.
“We know times are tough – cost of living and inflation were front of mind this year when we were deliberating this budget,” Mayor Toppin said.
“The rate increase will be a modest 3% which is lower than many local councils across Queensland.”
Mayor Toppin said the budget focused on securing critical assets and services, while maintaining lifestyle and supporting a growing, sustainable shire.
The 2025-26 operating expenditure of $58.5 million will cover the council’s day-to-day operations, including maintaining parks, libraries and community halls, and managing the airport.
The capital budget this year is $25.7 million. Transport will receive the largest contribution, with $17.2 million going towards road upgrades. This includes bitumen sealing and grading and significant works for Leadingham Creek Road, Dimbulah and Fassio Road, Mareeba.
Water infrastructure has been allocated $2.7 million and wastewater will receive $2.4 million for works such as upgrades to water mains, sewer mains, manhole replacements and treatment plants.
“The Mareeba CBD Blueprint project will be ramping up following extensive community consultation,” Mayor Toppin continued.
“The project is going to deliver construction-ready designs and plans to address stormwater drainage issues, car parking, accessibility for people walking and cycling, public toilets and amenities such as shade, seating, lighting and night-time activation.”
The facilities capital budget has been allocated $1.5 million to refurbish amenities at Centenary Park in Kuranda, provide a new septic system at Julatten Geraghty Park, conduct roof works at the Mareeba gymnasium and works at Dimbulah and Kuranda Aquatic Centres.
The community would also benefit from $2.94 million in cost savings. This included $2.07 million for prompt payment discounts, $405,000 in pensioner concessions, and an investment of $465,000 towards the Community Partnership Program to support not-for-profit community organisations and events throughout the shire.
The council acknowledged government funding from the state and federal governments including the Works for Queensland grant, the federal Local Roads and Community Infrastructure grant and the jointly funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
In welcoming the budget this year, councillors agreed cost of living was a key consideration.
Deputy Mayor Lenore Wyatt said council had been able to reduce impacts due to previous budget action.
“Last year’s increase was driven by inflation and rising costs of materials and services. But this year we’ve worked hard to ease that burden, while staying true to our long-term financial plan,” she said.
Cr Amy Braes agreed it had been “a difficult decision” but the previous budget had ensured council could this year retain its “strong record of financial sustainability and responsible fiscal stewardship”.
“This budget reflects an important truth and that is, there is no separation between council and community. What our ratepayers fund is what we deliver and there is no excess in this budget,” she said.
“This requires council to manage services with extraordinary diligence.”
Cr Nipper Brown also commended the work of the council and staff for producing a balanced budget, “with minimal impact on ratepayers”.
See Comment below.
AT A GLANCE:
Rate rise – 3%
Water, sewerage, waste services – $73 a year
Operational budget: $58 million
Capital Works: $25.7 million
– Transport: $17 million
– Water: $2.69 million
– Wastewater: $2.44 million
– Facilities: $1.47 million
– Parks and Open Spaces: $583,000
Community savings:
Prompt payments discounts - $2.07 million
Pensioner concessions - $405,000
Community Partnership Program - $465,000
Staying afloat in a sea of cost rises
COMMENT by ANDREE STEPHENS
AS ratepayers prepare to pay an additional $119 for their yearly rates, and keyboard warriors’ dust off their equipment, be thankful that Mareeba Shire Council takes a slow and steady approach to managing the shire’s finances.
This year’s budget, unlike other councils around the region, has maintained a reasonable course – no libraries have closed, no drastic cuts to services or asset sell-offs have screamed in headlines or social media.
It’s not often council gets a pat on the back, but there are a number of reasons why Mareeba is staying afloat in a sea of cost-of-living pressures and price rises: its adherence to a long-term asset management plan; the consistency of staff, managers and councillors; and a long council history of being solid, business-like and careful with its spending on “shiny” stuff.
Some would say this conservatism may also deny the Mareeba region a little chutzpah, but there is something to be said for being the tortoise, not the hare.
Indeed, the state government’s auditors have labelled the Mareeba Shire Council a benchmark in sustainable council management.
So what, then, is a long-term asset-management financial plan?
What it isn’t, is “sexy”, according to Mayor Angela Toppin.
It’s a “massive, boring” report, (which was tabled at last week’s meeting), is delivered annually, and provides information on the $1.04 billion worth of assets across the shire.
“We’re still learning about them, what’s underground, what we have, it’s a growing document and each year we get more detail,” Mayor Toppin said.
“Unless we can map this out and know at the critical juncture that you need to do these repairs, you’re going to have a blow-out.”
All councils must have them, but interestingly, the state government does not, which, when you consider the Kuranda Bridge situation, says a lot about forward-planning and monitoring.
A “robust” long-term asset-management plan also means a clearer long-term financial plan. Which brings us back to this year’s “sensible” budget. It won’t happen every year if the plan indicates, for example, a big spend on an asset repair, but there are no sudden surprises, and council has time to seek funding.
“I hate surprises,” Mayor Toppin said.
A final acknowledgement, which was made by each and every councillor during the budget discussions, was of the work carried out by council staff and the CEO.
It was noted after the meeting that the usual divide between those in finance and those in the field was not the case at the Mareeba Council, and staff “worked very well together”.
In fact, last week council presented some 20 staff with service certificates for employment of 20, 30 and even 40 years.
Experience and knowledge equal a slow and steady race win, this time around.
