BUDGET IMPROVES WATER SECURITY ACROSS THE SHIRE

Balonne Shire Council has handed down its largest budget in recent years with a total revenue of $108.67M and expenditure of $90.17M for a broad range of projects and programs across the Shire.

Situated in southwest Queensland, water security is a vitally important element of life in our region and is a central focus of our Council, which has attracted $3.17M of this budget’s funding. 

Balonne Shire Mayor Samantha O’Toole said the Council is acutely aware of the importance of water security in our region.

“This financial year we’ll see the finalisation of Mungindi’s water security project that entails the provision of a bore on the northern side of the border that will provide the town’s Queensland residents with an ongoing water supply in times of flood events”, Mayor O’Toole said.

“Maintenance of our water supply network is an important part of ensuring our residents can rely on the consistent supply of water to their properties and Council in investing over $1M upgrading water mains in Dirranbandi and St George this financial year. 

“Residents across the Shire can look forward to more consistent water security and water cooling from a successful $300,000 Building our Regions grant, which will provide a plan to improve water temperatures during hot summer months. 

“With St George currently on Level 1 water restrictions, we have allocated $50,000 to upgrade water meters to ensure residents can monitor their water use in the event that we need to further tighten restrictions.”

The Mungindi Water Security Project was made possible via joint funding from the Balonne Shire Council and the Federal Murray Darling Basin Economic Development Program.

ENDS