It’s not just roads, rates, rubbish any more, it’s much, much more
Wha“t I have learned in the past 11 years as Mayor is that a pothole on a resident’s local road is more important to them than a $70 million aquatic centre upgrade at Palm Beach.
The mantra ‘roads, rates and rubbish’ may have been apt in the 1950s when local councils largely focused on these essential services. Today, nothing could be further from the truth as councils, especially those the size of the City of Gold Coast, must deal with issues as diverse as building regulations and development, public health, local roads and footpaths, parks and playing fields, libraries, local environmental issues, waste disposal and disaster management and recovery.
In the case of the Gold Coast, we are the second largest council in Australia, providing for almost 700,000 residents and 13 million annual visitors. Our annual budget is around $1.83 billion, the second largest of any council in Australia.
Since I was elected Mayor in May 2012, our council has focused on three key pillars: paying down debt; keeping any annual general rate increases at, or below CPI; and delivering services at a price ratepayers expect.
The past 11 annual budgets have ensured any general Principal Place of Residence rate increase has been kept at, or below CPI. Principal Place of Residences is another term for the ‘family home’.
That low-rates agenda is a remarkable achievement as I recall, when a Surfers Paradise business operator before entering council in 2012, that annual rate increases under former administrations could exceed 10 per cent per annum.
From a debt perspective, councillors have worked tirelessly to reduce our projected debt in 2012
(heading for $880 million) down to around $650 million (our 2023-24 estimate). This debt reduction has been achieved over a decade when the city has hosted the Commonwealth Games, built the first stages of HOTA, funded our share of light rail, improved our city’s green and open space assets, restored the beaches and waterways from several high impact storms, renewed our waste and water service assets and built around $400 million of new sporting and community assets.
In comparison, Brisbane is currently groaning under a $3 billion debt burden - a full $2.3 billion higher than the Gold Coast. My prediction is that as the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics draw nearer, large corporations and the private sector will run the ruler over those debt comparisons. The result will be
greater confidence from global companies looking to invest in a city with a proven track record in managing its financial affairs.
An area I am extremely proud of is our council’s community engagement team.
Through a platform titled Gchaveyoursay, we have tested the community’s pulse on a suite of issues. Each budget cycle, we ask every resident what they want, and expect, for their rates dollars.
An example is the 2023-24 draft budget period we are currently in. Through consultation, we have directly heard from more than 6000 residents. This is a record response for budget consultation and I look forward to detailing what the key priorities are for residents as we approach the delivery of the budget in June.
Further, each councillor has an annual Local Area Works budget allocation of around $950,000. These funds are specific to their own divisions and are additional to the overall City allocation to projects in their divisions.
Councillors still want to hear directly from residents about what local projects need addressing so pick up the phone. I can be contacted directly via mayor@goldcoast.qld.gov.au
What I have learned in the past 11 years as Mayor is that a pothole on a resident’s local road is more important to them than a $70 million aquatic centre upgrade at Palm Beach. The ‘little things’ truly matter.
Looking ahead, I plan continuing to work with all councillors and the State and Federal governments to secure major legacy outcomes from the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.
Legacy outcomes start now and we are determined to see better public transport connectivity for our city and the SEQ region, a boost to our ‘smart job’ economy through further investment in the GC Health and Knowledge Precinct and a significant expansion to our accessible green and open space.
Securing green space through strategic land purchases is great but people want to be able to explore that natural environment. We are opening up our green space by constructing more walking trails, boardwalks and bush cycle paths.
Ensuring this green space is accessible to all abilities is critical. Expect some key announcements from our council later this year as we celebrate 2023 as the Year Of Accessible Tourism.
For now, jump on the phone or keyboard and let us know matters to you.