$50 HIT FOR RATEPAYERS

BUT MAYOR SAYS SHE DID THE BEST SHE COULD

INCREASES in water, wheelie bin and landfill charges are set to cost ratepayers in Townsville an average of about $50 a year in their annual rates bills. But Mayor Jenny Hill said the result was the best the council could do at this time.

Cr Hill said that the council had to bring forward work on the Stuart landfill because of last year’s monsoon event, while they were obliged to maintain a “commercial pricing path” for water.

“Overall in a budget this size and for our community those charges equate to a 98c a week increase, which is less than a cup of coffee a month for most people,” Cr Hill said. “We really tried to put as much downward pressure as we could through this.

“This is the best we can do at this time.”

INCREASES in water, wheelie bin and landfill charges are set to cost ratepayers in Townsville an average of about $1 a week in their annual rates bills.

The rise is part of the Townsville City Council 2020-21 budget released yesterday.

In other moves, the council has introduced a freeze on general rates for owner-occupiers, will invest $221.9 million in infrastructure to support local jobs, and provide a further $15 million for a COVID-19 support package.

Mayor Jenny Hill said the budget was fiscally responsible and would help the city recover from the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic while at the same time invest in the future.

“This budget is being delivered in very difficult circumstances, with a focus on ensuring the council invests in a way that supports this community to continue to grow,” Cr Hill said.

“There is no doubt that our community, including council, has had a tough year, only 12 months after the monsoon event to be hit with the COVID-19 pandemic.”

She said the council had done this through a freeze on general rates for owner-occupiers for at least the next six months, a freeze on wastewater charges across the city, and support for businesses, community groups and not-forprofit organisations.

Water charges will increase by 5 per cent and there will be a 5 per cent increase in wheelie bin and landfill fees.

These increases combined will, on average, cost ratepayers $0.98 cents a week.

Cr Hill said the council’s capital works investment was designed to support 1769 jobs.

“The budget includes $75.8 million for new, enhanced and refurbished underground infrastructure such as water, wastewater and stormwater assets.

“There’s also $150.3 million to maintain and improve our road network, $22.7 million for water security, $81.1 million for the city’s parks and open spaces and $7.6 million for the restoration of waterways and coastal environment.”

Council Governance and Finance Committee chairman Cr Kurt Rehbein said the budget also provided $20.6 million to deliver arts, culture and community celebrations.

Pensioner concessions and the early payment discount of 10 per cent will continue.