City to increase spend on roads

MAYOR Tom Tate has promised that Council’s $1.4 billion budget for next year will be refocused on badly-needed “congestion busting” measures.

Councillors met yesterday for the first budget talks of the 2018-19 financial year.

The talks centred around the council-controlled marketing and promotional entities, Surfers Paradise Alliance, Broadbeach Alliance and Connecting Southern Gold Coast.

But Mayor Tom Tate said the budget would focus on roads, confirming that roadworks funding would be increased from the $100 million spent in the 2017-18 financial year. “We have done budget consultation throughout the city and the strong indication back was that everyone wants to forward-plan our transport infrastructure,” he said.

Cr Tate said he was hoping to secure the support of his colleagues to fund a $10 million widening of Sundale Bridge in Southport from four lanes to five, a project he described as a “no brainer”.

The mayor also confirmed that the council would aim to deliver a rates increase of CPI or below.