Council budget emphasis on transport and sustainability in biosphere region

Sunshine Coast Council’s recent record budget has a concerted focus on preserving and celebrating the environment.

Council handed down a $1 billion budget on Thursday, which included money for road improvements, world-class sporting precincts and new community facilities.

Related story: See what your suburb gets from the budget

Ratepayers are also set to contribute more to the local environment, transport and arts and heritage.

Mayor Mark Jamieson said council was committed to conservation in the region, which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

“We are building the future prosperity and liveability of our region, keeping an emphasis on sustainability in all forms,” he said via a media release.

Council’s Environment Levy, paid by all ratepayers, will rise $2 a year to $82.

Raising $12.5 million, the Environment Levy will be invested in protecting and enhancing the valued natural environment, including native plants and animals, waterways and wetlands and coastal environments.

The Environment Levy will continue to support the expansion and management of council’s conservation estate for a range of habitat preservation, catchment management and coastal rehabilitation projects.

“There are now 7866 hectares of conservation estate across the Sunshine Coast, including 407 hectares purchased through the Environment Levy in this term of council,” Cr Jamieson said.

“Our council is leading the way to be a zero net emissions organisation and for the community to be low carbon by 2041.”

Connecting communities and encouraging travel behaviour change will also be front and centre of the work delivered with the proceeds of the Transport Levy, which also rises by $2 to $47.

Raising $7.1 million, the Transport Levy will support council’s contribution to the development of the detailed business case for the Sunshine Coast public transport project being led by the Department of Main Roads.

It will also progress the implementation of the five-year travel change behaviour program, improve bus stops and support two Flexilink services as well as the Council Link service for eligible pensioners travelling to their nearest centre.

The Arts and Heritage Levy will increase by $2 to $18 to raise more than $2.5 million.

This will further support the Sunshine Coast Arts Plan 2018-2038, which develops and delivers projects to provide career pathways for local emerging artists.

It also underpins the Sunshine Coast Heritage Plan 2021-2031, which backs new research into regional stories; conserves our region’s heritage assets, including State Heritage-listed Bankfoot House and its nationally significant collection; and supports our region’s community museums and heritage organisations through grants, practical workshops, professional development, community programs, collaborative marketing and events.

Budget highlights

Snapshot

• $366 million to develop a strong community
• $327 million to maintain and enhance our environment and liveability
• $41 million to build our resilient economy
• $156 million to deliver service excellence

Features

• $26 million for road maintenance of sealed and unsealed roads
• $7.2 million for dredging and beach renourishment works
• $12.9 million for library hubs, and a further $3.8 million for our book replacement program
• $17.6 million for park, turf and landscape maintenance
• $3.2 million for our sponsorship of major events
• $3.7 million for grants and partnerships

Local projects in $331m Capital Works Program 

Road/cycleway network

• $24.5 million to reseal and rehabilitate council’s sealed road network
• $5.5 million to finalise the upgrade of Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba, including the new Mayes Canal Bridge**
• $5.4 million to begin construction on the Oval Avenue and Gosling Street upgrade, Caloundra
• $4 million to finalise Stage 2 and 3 of North Arm-Yandina Creek Road upgrade, Yandina Creek
• $3.6 million to finalise Stage 4 of Camp Flat Road upgrade, Bli Bli*
• $2.3 million to construct Stringybark Road pedestrian and cyclist bridge, Sippy Downs*
• $2 million to upgrade Brandenburg Road, Mooloolah Valley

Streetscaping

• $7.8 million to deliver the proposed Mooloolaba Foreshore Central Meeting Place Streetscape works
• $6 million to begin construction on the major streetscape upgrade of First Avenue, Maroochydore*
• $2.8 million to finalise placemaking and streetscape works in Eumundi Town Centre*
• $1.7 million to begin construction of Nambour Namba Place Streetscape improvements
• $1.3 million to continue work on Maleny Business Centre Streetscape works, Maple Street
• $1.085m to complete Stage 2 of Landsborough Streetscape works*

Sport and recreation

• $14.4 million to begin construction of the new Honey Farm Road Sports Precinct
• $9.1 million to upgrade Kawana Waters Regional Aquatic Centre
• $2.9 million to design and replace roof structure at Caloundra Indoor Sports Stadium*
• $1.6 million to begin construction on Coolum Sports Complex intersection*
• $700,000 to upgrade North Shore Multi Sports change room, Mudjimba*

Community facilities

• $21.7 million to begin construction of the new district library and community meeting space, Caloundra
• $3.1 million to finalise detailed design of Sunshine Coast Stadium expansion
• $3 million to progress design of Nambour Administration Precinct
• $706,000 to begin detailed design on Sippy Downs Library and Community Venue

Coast, canals and waterways

• $2.2 million to finalise Caloundra Headland Coastal Pathway*
• $950,000 to renew revetment walls throughout the region
• $500,000 Bradman Avenue Revetment Walls renewals

*State funding, **federal Funding

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