Gold Coast 20/21 city budget promises a year of no-frills focus for Division 9.
Mayor Tate and Cr Gates answer questions after the budget adoption meeting
Each year, when the City of Gold Coast budget is adopted, I summarise what is included for residents relating to Division 9 and the surrounding area, and field questions from the community about our priorities, as well as take notes listening carefully about possible projects for future years. Budgets are not generally the most exciting part of the job, but lots of people who live in Division 9 want to know what’s in the council budget for them and their community group interests.
This year, the Council worked hard together to focus on our core business and deliver downward pressure on rising costs and difficulties being faced by residents and business during this #COVID19 season. I think we’ve actually done a pretty good job, delivering and average rate rise of 1.7% for minimum general rate properties across the city, and in some cases delivered a rate reduction when you include a small rebate. For many, it’s as good a budget as you could hope for in these difficult times.
Some properties, including those that have had Annual Land Valuation program rule on significant valuation increases will face rate increases that Council could not fully and fairly mitigate. One challenge was the varying outcomes across the city in the one 5B rating category (some farm values increased significantly, some did not). This anomaly will affect some rural properties; primary producers who graze cattle or sheep and grow vegetables. If I had to think of one particularly disappointing element of the budget, that would be it; being unable to mitigate these impacts for local Division 9 farmers. However, I’ve sought support of some of my colleagues for a small grant program that might fairly address that impact on economic stimulus grounds, acknowledging the important role the food production and farming industry has on our community. In July and August when this is considered I hope it will provide the stimulus and relief needed, and will be supported by other Councillors.
Broadly, this is a budget that Councillors supported unanimously, collaborated on collegiately, and delivers the certainty that the community and business have sought as we all work together to recover from an expected COVID-19 recession.
Our city is well placed to grow and flourish in spite of the challenges we’ve faced over past months and this budget augments that objective.
I hope you’ll let me know if you’ve got ideas we can advance this year or next to improve our great city.
20/21 Division 9 Local Area Works & Divisional Allocation Summary
$299k - Pathway connections in Bonogin and Mudgeeraba (5 projects)
$119k - Community events including Anzac Day, Christmas Carols, Mudgeeraba Street Party, Summertime Sessions & Paws at the Park plus others
$100k - Firth Park Sports Precinct strategic planning
$48k - Shade, fencing, seats and bollards in parks
$40k - Playground and park improvement plans in Highland Park and Mudgeeraba
$40k - Landcare and Active & Healthy programs
$35k - Discretionary grants (formerly divisional donations)
$30k – Preliminary design for new Lower Beechmont community building
$20k - Christmas tree refresh in Reedy Creek
$15k - Park and suburb signage in Reedy Creek and Mudgeeraba
Projects already in progress including delivering our Digital City fibre project through Mudgeeraba (and to Mudgeeraba Showgrounds), new shade at Gilston’s Peter Mills Park, and advancing the #WesterlySwell event planned for September.
Whole of City projects in Division 9 and surrounds
$6.7m – Worongary – Hinkler Drive staged over 3 years
$3m – Reedy Creek - Old Coach shared path and road pavement
$2.5m (over 3 years) – Gilston - staged delivery of pathway project
$2m – fire trail CAPEX maintenance for the coming 4 years, across the whole city
$1.5m – Mudgeeraba Pool staged over the coming 4 years
$1.5m collection of 10+ road re-surfacing and re-construction projects Div 9
$1.2m (over 2 years) - Cycling and Pedestrian Improvement projects across the division
$1m – Reedy Creek - Bridgeman Drive pathway
$1m – Bridges/Causeways across division over coming 4 years
$550k – Mudgeeraba – Railway St retaining wall
$500k – flood warning program including Hardys, Somerset, Berrigans, Gunsynd
$560k – Austinville - concept designs for improvement to roads near Austinville Waterhole plus a series of other CAPEX bushland management projects across the city
$370k – Mudgeeraba Cemetery improvements
$350k – Lower Beechmont community building to improve disaster resilience and community recovery – staged over 3 years
Staged over several years just north, east and south of Division 9
$11.5m - Robina City Parklands construction
$5.2m – Nerang - Gilston Rd improvements
$4.2m – Robina - Laver Drive improvements
$4m - Robina – Scottsdale Drive and Robina Town Centre Drive improvements
$2m ($738k in 20/21) – Nerang – Country Paradise Parklands (waterplay and improved facilities, ongoing project)
$1.5m - Tallebudgera - Bermuda St connection to Old Coach Rd designs
Hardship Grants Program - $500,000 in funding available to local community groups. This funding is available for those who deliver essential services to our most vulnerable residents. Apply now cityofgoldcoast.com.au/covid19grants