Toowoomba Regional Council’s second budget reflects efforts to create consistency and equity in council’s fiscal management.

Financial and Sporting Services portfolio leader Cr Mike Williams said we have now moved to a unified financial system across the region and this will produce huge benefits in our ability to collate and present information.

“We have also continued to refine the rating system. This year we have introduced a new rating category for poultry and have refined the extractive industry and noxious industry categories to create a fairer system.

“In addition, we have adjusted the minimum general rate to benchmark against other similar regions and to reflect the true cost of delivering basic services.”

Cr Williams said the average ratepayer could expect an increase in general rates of approximately seven percent.

“We are now reaping the rewards of initiating a regional rating system. While we are still experiencing some pain in aligning the region and bringing the rate in the dollar together for similar categories, this process is nearly complete.

“It is about equity in providing the same rates for the same type of rateable property. For example, if you are a small rural holding, you should be paying the same rate in the dollar whether you live at Crows Nest or Cecil Plains.

“However, we will still see some implications of valuation increases which were averaged over three years.

The region’s residents will see ongoing improvements in cultural and heritage facilities as a result of council’s 2009/2010 budget allocations.

Council’s Cultural, Heritage and Facilities Services portfolio leader Cr Ros Scotney said the community facilities budget focused on cemeteries, libraries and showgrounds.

“One of the exciting announcements in this budget is an innovative cemetery digitisation project. Council staff have developed a prototype whereby residents and visitors can search an electronic system that contains personal details, photos of headstones and cemetery maps via an external touch screen.

“This system is considered best practice in Australia and, when launched later this year, will provide a common tool to search for information relating to some 55,000 interments across the region. This is a $55,000 project of which the State Government has contributed $33,000.

“A cemetery master planning project covering all 19 council controlled cemeteries will also begin this financial year.

“Shade structures and seating are being installed at five of the region’s public cemeteries – Drayton & Toowoomba, Pittsworth, Millmerran, Crows Nest and Cabarlah with Federal Government funding of $91,500.

“While on the subject of cemeteries, Goombungee will receive over $30,000 and Millmerran almost $12,000, Clifton $10,000 and Cabarlah $20,000 for other cemetery maintenance and improvements.

The planning budget this year is setting a new course for greater community participation, sustainable development outcomes and the raising of standards in the provision of fundamental community and environmental infrastructure.

Planning and Development Services portfolio leader Cr Peter Marks said the $7.9million budget allocation would allow council to provide a far more regionalised level of planning, building and plumbing services leading to more sustainable urban and rural outcomes.

“The provision of essential infrastructure across the region is a priority in this budget. It will involve the adoption of consistent region-wide policies.

“A significant policy move supported in this budget is reflected in an allocation of $1.5million to develop a new Regional Planning Scheme. This will require the replacement of eight different land use planning control documents from across the region with one modern scheme by December 2011.

“The new Regional Planning Scheme will aim to achieve sustainable urban and rural development outcomes within the context of this energy and agriculturally rich region,” Cr Marks said.

Aligned with development of a regional planning scheme, council is currently reviewing over 30 different planning scheme policies from across the region.

The true cost of providing the region’s water now and into the future, is reflected in Toowoomba Regional Council’s 2009/10 Budget.

Water Services portfolio leader Cr Paul Antonio said obviously a 10 year water drought has had serious ramifications for council.

“As forecast, the $187 million pipeline from Wivenhoe Dam to Lake Cressbrook, to be jointly funded by TRC and the State Government, has significantly impacted this year’s budget,” he said.

“People relying on Toowoomba’s bulk water supply will be hardest hit.

“While we have continued to develop contingency emergency supplies from basalt bores and the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), the Wivenhoe pipeline allows council to underpin growth to 2050.

“This guaranteed supply comes with a huge price tag. The cost of the pipeline, coupled with investments in contingency borewater supplies, has been reflected in significant increases in water connection and consumption charges for those connected to the Toowoomba water supply scheme.

“Meanwhile ratepayers on other regional supplies will face increased water consumption costs in line with increased infrastructure and pumping costs in those areas.

“Budget water deliberations about the Toowoomba bulk water scheme were clearly separate from those on other regional water schemes. In other words, regional water scheme users will not be subsidising the Wivenhoe pipeline.

Council’s ongoing commitment to the provision of community development initiatives and environmental services is reflected in this year’s budget.

Environmental and Community Services portfolio chair Cr Bill Cahill said council would continue to support eight community development staff working at the ‘coal face’ of local communities throughout the region.

“We look forward to the release later this year of our redeveloped Regional Community Directory. As its name suggests, this directory will provide up-to-date information to help people across the region access specific government and community resources.

“Funding for specific celebration events such as Seniors Week, Disability Week and Refugee Week will continue in recognition of these special groups in the community.

“In August/September council will release a volunteer management manual and systems to help those community groups who rely on volunteers to help deliver their services.

“Council’s successful series of nine workshops for residents aged over 50 will finish in August. Facilitated by Lifeline Community Development Worker Cath Leask, these grassroots workshops focused on the issues faced by older residents across the region.

“The workshops sought to develop regional solutions to local concerns. Outcomes from the workshops will help guide council decisions concerning this age group in the future,” Cr Cahill said.

In this year’s budget, Toowoomba Regional Council has been careful to target its corporate investment to create long-term efficiencies.

“This is a time for responsible, cautious and far-sighted leadership. Corporate services are essentially about the business of council and we are determined to run a tight ship,” Corporate Services portfolio leader Cr John McVeigh said.

The seven areas of governance and administration, financial services, procurement and trade services, information management, human resources, corporate communication and legal services are integral to the smooth operation of council and the delivery of council services.

“This year’s budget will herald a period of consolidation and progress for council following the challenges of a complex amalgamation. A significant effort has been made to limit our recurrent operating costs.

“I particularly applaud advances made in the area of Information Management where a wide area network telecommunications project has now united staff in a single computer system across the region.

“These technologies will improve customer service levels while allowing staff to finetune their skills and work programs.

“Information technology will continue to be a high priority for this council with an allocation of almost $900,000 in this budget.

The value to the region of parks and tourism and events were acknowledged in Toowoomba Regional Council’s 2009/2010 budget allocations.

Tourism, Events and Parks Services portfolio leader Cr Joe Ramia said parks were a valuable asset to the community and provided a source of enjoyment, recreation and relaxation to residents and visitors alike.

“Council is responsible for no less than 345 public parks and 64 bushland parks with a total area of more than 8500 hectares.

“In addition, council owns some 86 hectares of public gardens. While these park facilities are a source of community pride, they nonetheless take considerable ratepayer funds to maintain.

“Council has been prudent in allocating more than $1.1m to the ongoing acquisition of parkland across the region.

“The jewel in the crown, Toowoomba’s Queens Park, will be the subject of a conservation management plan costing $35,000 of which the State Government is contributing $15,000. A sum of $40,000, including a $10,000 contribution from the Lions Club, will also be spent at Queens Park on upgrading electrical infrastructure to allow it to better cater for large events,” Cr Ramia said.

“However, much of the parks budget is spent on the ongoing maintenance of the region’s parks.

“For example, vegetation control and mowing costs council around $1.8million each year.

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.

Toowoomba Regional Council’s 2009/10 budget commits funds to implement and finalise several key regional economic, corporate, community and integrated planning projects.

Strategic Services portfolio leader Cr Noel Strohfeld said completing the City Centre Master Plan, developing the ACTION 2050 community plan and the Local Disaster Management Plan along with advancing the Economic Development Strategy would be priority projects for the coming year.

“Strategic Services delivers a range of policy and project frameworks which guide and influence almost every facet of council’s services,” he said.

“Budget funding of almost $4 million allows us to set regional and long-term planning strategies and blueprints for all other council operations.

“The Economic Development Branch will provide survey and research support to the newly formed Economic Development Board.

“One of the board’s initial tasks is to develop an Economic Development Strategy.”

Cr Strohfeld said extending and completing numerous planning projects was a high priority for the Integrated Regional Planning Branch.

Toowoomba Regional Council’s 2009 -10 budget allocates $34.7 million for new engineering works and projects designed to improve and promote projected growth and development across the region.

Engineering Services portfolio leader Cr Carol Taylor said an additional $5.4 million was planned for new works this year compared with the previous year.

Cr Taylor said the provision of additional funds reinforced council’s determination to maintain and upgrade vital infrastructure used by all residents.

“Engineering projects remain core local government responsibilities and this budget provides funds for council to plan, design and perform top priority projects around the entire region,” she said.

“Engineering officers worked in tandem with district service officers to determine exactly where and which projects would be performed in the coming year.

“This cooperation between council branches ensured all project requests could be assessed fairly.

“This work pattern is part of a thorough review and valuation of council’s entire asset base.

“This process further enhances council’s ability to plan for future works.”