2024/25 BUDGET ACHIEVES FINANCIAL PRUDENCE WHILE DELIVERING FOR THE SHIRE
At a Special Budget meeting on 25 July, Council officially adopted its 2024/25 Budget and Operational Plan that will deliver an extensive infrastructure and capital works program, while achieving a net operating surplus and keeping rates increases in line with CPI.
The 2024/25 Budget features a net operating surplus of $110,000, a net result of $5.13M (including capital revenue), total revenue of $60.18M and expenditure of $55.06M.
Council will deliver a $17.498M Capital Works Program, which includes an estimated $6.977M in grant funding and this budget dedicates $2.71M to operational projects, with $1.371M of this from grant funding.
A further $16.24M in flood recovery will be delivered to focus on restoring road networks back to pre-flood conditions across the Shire.
Mayor Samantha O’Toole praised the efforts of all in Council who contributed to bringing together a balanced budget that delivers for our residents.
"As a team, we have worked hard to balance the budget, with a modest surplus and one that continues to deliver improvements and services for our Shire,” said Mayor O’Toole.
“We understand the price of goods and services have risen significantly over recent times and is creating cost-of-living pressures, which is why we have worked hard to contain rates increases in line with CPI.
“The focus of this budget is on improving our local road network with additional flood recovery works, community programs and planning for the future needs of our communities.
“Master plans, adopted in consultation with our communities, will drive a coordinated approach to capital infrastructure development and we will continue our record of success in project delivery.
“Our operational plan and projects reflect our commitment to service delivery and that meets the needs of our communities and working towards a sustainable future for the Shire.
“This new term of Council has kicked-off a higher degree of community engagement with the commencement of regular Community Catch-up Days and a breadth of community surveys on our ‘Have Your Say’ webpage.
“Our budgets and works programs are all about delivering for the residents of our Shire and the more feedback and engagement we can have with our community, the more aligned they will be with the needs of our residents.
“This Budget is consistent with Council’s vision for welcoming, connected and innovative communities, where economies are strong and opportunities are abundant.
“There is still funding for projects awaiting sign-off from the State and Federal Governments that we look forward to announcing soon.”
Council remains committed to transparency in financial planning and reporting and will monitor progress on the delivery of the 2024/25 Operational Plan on a quarterly basis and continue providing monthly financial reports to Council.
¬ENDS
For more information:
Josh Euler - Corporate Communications Manager
0423 786 672
josh.euler@balonne.qld.gov.au
OVERVIEW OF 2024/25 PROJECTS
2024/25 CAPITAL PROJECTS
AERODROMES
Industrial Development St George - $1,500,000
St George Aerodrome Lighting & Perimeter Fencing Upgrade - $400,000 ($200,000 funded through the Australian Government’s Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program)
St George Aerodrome Perimeter Road - $100,000
St George Airport Terminal DDA Compliance Design & Delivery - $90,000 ($45,000 funded through the Queensland Government’s Passenger Transport Accessible Infrastructure Program)
DEPOTS
Flood Barrier Housing St George Depot - $65,000 ($38,000 funded by the State Emergency Service)
Implementation of Depot Master Plan St George - $80,000
FACILITIES
CBD Furniture - St George - $63,000
St George Cemetery Expansion - $225,000
St George Rowden Park - Female Amenities - $704,000 ($520,000 funded through the Queensland Government’s Minor Infrastructure and Inclusive Facilities Fund)
Town Entry Signage Lighting - $61,000
FOOTPATH, KERB & CHANNEL
Bollon Median Renewal - $72,000
Design Klinge Lane and Grey Street Carparking - $80,000
Footpath Booligar Street, Thallon - $34,000
Mungindi Gravel Footpath to 2 Mile - $120,000
St George - Alfred Street Footpath Upgrade - $103,000
St George - Victoria St Footpath Renewal - $200,000
Thallon - Pine St Footpath Renewal - $38,000
Thallon -Pine St Kerb Renewal - $58,000
PARKS & GARDENS
Dirranbandi Rail & River Remaining Scope - $63,000
Festoon Lighting - St George Hub - $30,000
Hebel Masterplan Stage 1 Implementation - $245,000 ($200,000 funded through the Queensland Government’s Building Bush Tourism Fund)
Removal of Grey Street Buildouts St George - $18,000
St George Lions Park Irrigation Upgrade - $24,000
St George River Foreshore Renewal Plan (Stage 2) - $60,000
Thallon Campground Remaining Scope - $32,000
Victoria Street Median Strips - $55,000
STORMWATER
LGGSP 22-24 Drainage Plans - Mungindi & St George - $110,000 ($41,000 funded through the Queensland Government’s Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program)
TRANSPORT & LOCAL ROADS
2024/2025 - Town Local Roads Rehab Program – ($845,000)
Detail Design for Victoria Street Between Scott & Henry Streets – $102,000
Jakelwar Goodooga Road North 4kms - $1,195,000 (Funded through the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery Program and the Queensland Government’s Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme)
Jakelwar Goodooga Road North - Betterment - $2,263,000 ($2,076,000 funded through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority)
Reseal Programme – $875,000 ($437,000 funded through Roads to Recovery Program)
Re-Sheet Programme - $700,000 ($250,000 funded through Roads to Recovery Program)
Sealed Road Network Pavement Rehabilitation - $1,115,000 (Funded through the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery Program and the Queensland Government’s Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme)
Hebel Bypass - $150,000
SEWERAGE
Shire sewerage flow meters - $45,000
Shire sewerage holding tank upgrades - $85,000
St George Sewer Relining - Stage 1 - $500,000
WATER
Bollon Mary St Mains Renewal - $60,000
Mungindi Reticulation Upgrades - $175,000
Mungindi Water Security Project - $705,000 (24/25 cost) ($506,000 funded through the New South Wales Cross Border Commissioner Fund)
St George - Barlee & Marie St Potable Mains Renewal - $251,000
St George Non-Potable Water Meters - $56,000
Thallon Pine St Mains Renewal - $288,000
FLEET & PLANT
Plant & Fleet Replacement Plan - $2,200,000
Implementation of Powerstacks - $4,000 (Funded through the Queensland Government’s Flexible Funding Grants under the Disaster Recover Funding Arrangements)
Camera & Road Condition Signs - $300,000 (Funded through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority)
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Resource Recovery Shed - Conceptual Design - $10,000
Thallon Landfill – Fencing - $25,000
New Site Planning & Design - Hebel Landfill/Transfer Station - $30,000
RURAL LANDS
Dirranbandi Common Boundary Fencing - $22,000
FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES
Server Replacement - $90,000
Replacement CES Multifunction Printer/Copier - $16,000
Audio Visual Upgrades - $62,000
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Generator - Balonne Shire Evacuation Centre - $50,000 (Funded through the Queensland Government’s Flexible Funding Grants under the Disaster Recover Funding Arrangements)
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Grants Co-Contribution Fund - $648,000
2024/25 OPERATIONAL PROJECTS
INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES
Equine And Events Centre Feasibility Study - $60,000
Road Technical Coordinator Top Up (SWQROC Shared Resource) - $5,000
Shovel Ready Project Planning - $50,000
Water Engineer (SWQROC Shared Resource) - $30,000
PARKS & GARDENS
Beardmore Dam Implementation of Master Plan - $100,000 (Funded by Sunwater)
WATER
SCADA Strategy Implementation - $50,000
STORMWATER
St George Integrated Stormwater & Flood Management Plan Study - $149,000 (Funded through the Disaster Recover Funding Arrangements)
COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Balonne Active Women & Girls Program - $25,000 (Funded through the Queensland Government’s Active Women and Girls Program)
Balonne Community Calendar - $10,000
Chappy Program - $11,000
Community Sponsorship Donation & Grants Program - $50,000
Balonne Community Recovery & Resilience Officer - $235,000 (Funded through the Community Recovery and Resilience Officer Program)
Mental Health & Wellbeing Programs (External) - $20,000
Regional Arts Development Fund - $28,000 ($25,000 funded through the Queensland Government’s Regional Arts Development Fund)
Work Camp - $40,000
Youth Council Projects - $10,000
Youth Summit - $20,000
First 5 Forever Program - $9,000 (Funded through the Queensland Government’s First 5 Forever Grants Program)
Story fest South West - $10,000
RURAL SERVICES
Cultural Burning Weed Management - $162,000 (Funded through the Australian Government’s Pest, Animal and Weed Pipeline Program)
Roadside Weed Management - $97,000 (Funded through the Queensland Government’s Department of Transport and Main Roads – Roads Maintenance Performance Contracts)
Feral Animal Management - $129,000
Pest Weeds - $20,000
Shire Firebreaks - $35,000
WASTE MANAGEMENT
48-54 Roe Street Sampling & Analysis Plan - $35,000
Annual Shire Clean-Up - $70,000
Concrete Crushing - St George Landfill - $71,000
Fire Mitigation of Landfills - $20,000
Greenwaste Shredding - St George Landfill - $180,000
Illegal Dumping Waste Officer & Vehicle Rental - $115,000 ($90,000 funded through the Queensland Government’s Local Government Illegal Dumping Partnerships Program)
FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES
Asset Revaluations of Buildings & Other Facilities - $55,000
Mental Health & Wellbeing Programs (Internal) - $25,000
Magiq Cloud Performance - $25,000
PC/Laptop Replacement - 30 units est - $90,000
Skytrust WHS system - $30,000
Software Systems/Projects - SharePoint Project Phase 1 & 2 only - $8,000
OFFICE OF THE CEO
Learning Opportunities Report Implementation - $20,000
Operational Grants Co-Contribution Fund - $36,000
Special Projects - $20,000
TOURISM SERVICES
One Ton Post - Assessment & Preservation Report - $20,000 (Funded through the Queensland Government’s Flexible Funding Grants under the Disaster Recover Funding Arrangements)
VIC Christmas Decorations - $10,000
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Balonne Shire Evacuation Centre - Evaluation Report - $50,000 (Funded through the Queensland Government’s Flexible Funding Grants under the Disaster Recover Funding Arrangements)
Disaster Management Officer - $86,000 (Funded through the Queensland Government’s Flexible Funding Grants under the Disaster Recover Funding Arrangements)
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Balonne Investment & Industry Fact Sheets - $36,000
Designated Area Migration Agreement Balonne & Region - $10,000
Business Mentoring Program - $36,000 (Funded through the Queensland Government’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement – Local Recovery and Resilience Grants Program)
Workforce Development Officer - $87,000 (Funded through Queensland Government’s Growing Workforce Participation Fund)
Renewable Energy & Anhydrous Ammonia Production - $200,000 (Funded through the Queensland Government’s Regional Economic Futures Fund)