District Services - Budget

District Services portfolio leader Cr Anne Glasheen said balancing community expectations with strict priorities for maintaining public infrastructure was a central focus of Toowoomba Regional Council’s 2009/10 budget.

“Council is committed to offering consistent service levels across the region. Residents can be assured there will be no reduction in services,” she said.

“Despite continuing economic challenges, council devised a fiscally responsible budget to offer more efficient services.

“Council is particularly mindful of ensuring the long-term sustainability of these services and has provided a sound financial base for future plans.”

Cr Glasheen said council had a responsibility to plan and provide facilities and infrastructure that communities expected to use now and in the future.

“There is also the need to maintain and upgrade existing assets,” she said.

The significant focus on water in this budget extends to all regional residents.

“Council has standardised all water charges for all water schemes outside the Toowoomba bulk water supply,” Cr Glasheen said.

“This is a major decision that offers council the scope to further improve services in the future.

“Council appreciates household budgets are being stretched by rising living costs. We have worked hard to create a budget that balances our community service demands and the costs of everyday living.

“Council’s commitment to maintain and improve service delivery is ably highlighted by the allocation for road upgrades.

“More than $19 million will be spent adding more bitumen and gravel to upgrade the district road network.

“The 2009/10 budget specifically provides more that $5.7 million for bitumen reseals and gravel resheeting across more than 5600km of council-controlled district roads.

“This is a significant increase compared with last year and reinforces a commitment to roads in rural areas and townships that remains a basic local government responsibility.”

Toowoomba Regional Council’s focus on service delivery provided an opportunity to look at alternative arrangements.

Cr Glasheen said an example of this approach was the trial extension of the mobile library service that would visit township areas across the Greenmount/Cambooya service centre areas.

“This trial allows us to better use existing resources and to expand our capabilities around the region,” she said.

“Federal funding support will allow a range of other community projects to proceed across rural areas and townships.

“This will include improvements to swimming pools and new infrastructure such as bus shelters, shade shelters, walkways, skate parks and playgrounds.

“It is pleasing to see the continuation of the local community grants schemes across the region to provide ongoing support for many community organisations.
“Managing competing priorities and community expectations has placed a greater emphasis on maintaining our regional infrastructure.

“Delivering equity across diverse areas is a continuing challenge.

“I also wish to acknowledge the effort and commitment of the entire council team for delivering consistency and balance across our region.”