Mayor’s Budget Message

Toowoomba Regional Council’s 2009-2010 budget will secure a sustainable future for our region. This budget has required Council to make a number of tough decisions to ensure we meet our commitment to future generations.

This is a budget about the long haul. It sows the seeds for a quality of life that future generations will reap for 20, 30, 40 years to come.

There is no hiding from it – this is a budget that has called for strong, responsible leadership in order to tackle the huge challenges facing this region.

In preparing this budget, Council has been determined to build a foundation that will ensure our region’s long-term prosperity. If we get the foundation right, and we are very confident that we have, it will make life easier for our children and our children’s children. The sacrifices we make today will provide lifestyle insurance for future generations of residents and ratepayers.

This framing of this budget allows Council to stand on its own two feet and, through necessity, operate with greater autonomy. When faced with increased operating costs and the need to maintain $2.2 billion worth of community assets, Council has had no choice.

We have an obligation to prepare a budget that will enable us to meet not only our ongoing maintenance and operational responsibilities but also enable future investment in major community infrastructure projects.

To mark time and do nothing is unthinkable. We simply cannot allow our region’s valuable assets to deteriorate through lack of funding. Our community expects us to build our capacity to maintain and upgrade our basic infrastructure.

For example, council has increased funding for resheeting, resealing and asphalt works on the region’s roads by 40% - $8.5 million compared to $5.4 million last year. Operational and infrastructure maintenance funding for water and wastewater has been increased by 17% and 19% respectively.

High on Council‘s priority list is drought proofing the region, particularly with the levels in our three major water supply dams dropping to 10%. A guaranteed water supply is fundamental for regional growth and development; for increasing employment and maximising business opportunities.

Council has put in place a $15 million supplementary bore system and the Wivenhoe to Cressbrook pipeline will become a reality early next year. But it comes with a very large price tag of $187million being shared by council and the Queensland Government.

Drought-proofing the region has left Council with no choice – a complete overhaul of our water pricing structure. While new charges will almost double the price of water, we still compare favourably with other Queensland councils.

This budget reflects the true price of water.

Council has to meet the rising costs of maintaining and upgrading infrastructure, facilities and services across a very large area – 13,000 square kilometres – and for a very large population base – more than 150,000 residents. Through improved operating efficiencies, Council has managed to keep the average rise in general rates to 7%.

We have benchmarked our rates and charges across local government and we remain not only competitive but, in many cases, below the rates and charges set by other comparable Queensland councils.

Yes, this is a tough budget. But it plants the seeds for a healthy, sustainable lifestyle for the generations that follow. It provides water security and provides for a sustainable future for the region.

Peter Taylor
MAYOR TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL