Core Services Underpin 2024/25 Budget

Townsville City Council's 2024/25 Budget and Operational Plan prioritises delivering core services despite rising operational costs.

Adopted at today’s Special Council Meeting, Acting Mayor Paul Jacob emphasised the focus on maintaining reliable services for the community.

“This budget aims to meet current and future community needs, prioritising core services such as reliable bin collections, safe roads and tidy streets, parks and open spaces to enjoy,” Cr Jacob said.

“Council services more than 86,000 rateable properties and manages infrastructure worth close to $9 billion.”

The Acting Mayor said with Townsville’s population tipping 200,000 people, maintaining Council’s extensive infrastructure - including roads, water supply, and wastewater networks, is crucial.

Cr Jacob acknowledged the impact of rising costs on the organisation such as labour, materials, electricity, and fuel.

“This financial year, $588.6 million has been allocated to roads, water, wastewater networks and waste management. We’ve prioritised maintaining our extensive road network, spanning more than the distance between Cairns and Brisbane, and maintenance and renewal of 2,700km of water pipes and more than 1,400km of wastewater pipes across the city,” Cr Jacob said.

“Parks, playgrounds, and open spaces have been allocated $91.5 million for maintenance and renewal, including mowing and maintenance of 367 parks.”

“When faced with the predicament of potentially having to reduce core services available to the community, Council voted for a responsible rate increase, securing our city’s financial position and ensuring Townsville continues to be a great place to live, work and play.

Increasing rates is one of several measures Council has adopted – Council’s paid parking fees will also increase by $1 per hour from 29 July 2024, the first rise in 14 years, which will be reinvested back into Council roads and well utilised parts of the city.

“The increase is still well below that experienced in other cities such as Cairns at $2.20 p/hr and Newcastle at $5p/hr,” Cr Jacob said.

Cr Jacob said the introduction of paid parking on The Strand, Gregory Street, Palmer Street and at the Fulham Road medical precinct aimed to balance the needs of businesses, residents and workers while providing a sustainable approach to offsetting the cost of maintaining key community assets such as The Strand.

“Most people may not be aware, it costs over $6 million a year to maintain The Strand alone. It is also close to 25 years old and what was fit for purpose for our population in 1999 has since had no additional parking solutions provided. It is anticipated that by 2026, 20% of users will be unable to find a parking space at The Strand,” Cr Jacob said.

“The inclusion of paid parking at these locations is expected to improve the turnover of parking bays and increase visitor numbers whilst also providing much needed funding toward upkeep.”

Cr Jacob noted there would be significant community interest in the changes and additions to paid parking, and that further information would to be available to community as the project progresses toward implementation in late 2024.

“By making some tough decisions now, we’re delivering for both today and tomorrow, whilst ensuring the community continue to receive the services they expect from Council.”

Visit the Budget 2024/25 page for more information.