Noosa Council has delivered its budget for 2026-27, with rates set to rise while millions are invested in infrastructure, waste management and disaster recovery projects.
The $200m budget, adopted at a special meeting, includes a $56 million capital works program and a further $29 million in disaster recovery works across the hinterland, funded through state and federal disaster recovery arrangements.
Mayor Frank Wilkie said the budget had been prepared amid ongoing global economic uncertainty, rising material costs and supply chain pressures.
“The priority has been meeting community expectations, responding to rising costs and working to find the right balance,” Cr Wilkie said.
Council said its financial position had enabled it to minimise the impact of recent land valuation increases, which averaged about 37 per cent across the shire.
The majority of owner-occupier ratepayers, who are on the minimum general rate, will see their rates notices increase by $2.58 a week, or $134.10 annually – a rise of 6.9 per cent.
Council has retained its on-time rates payment discount, worth $77 this year, as well as full pensioner rebates for eligible property owners.
Most levies have been frozen, with the exception of the Sustainable Transport Levy, which will increase by $5.55 a year to support ongoing investigations into transport improvements across the shire.
Waste collection charges will increase by about eight cents a week, or $44 a year, reflecting higher collection costs, the state waste levy and planned investment in recycling and landfill safety improvements.
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Infrastructure remains a major focus, with $19.1 million allocated to roads, bridges and transport infrastructure, $15.1 million to resource recovery and waste management, $6.8 million to parks and community facilities, $4.5 million to stormwater and waterways projects, and $2.8 million for pathways, boardwalks and trails.
Among the largest projects in the capital works program are an $8.8 million expansion of the Noosa Resource Recovery Centre, a $7.8 million renewal of Doonella Lake Bridge and $5.9 million for road resealing works across the shire.
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The budget also includes $5.5 million for upgrades at the Doonan landfill, $3.44 million for stormwater improvements, $2.49 million for upgrades at the Cooroy Sports Complex and $1.5 million for a filtration system upgrade at the Noosa Aquatic Centre.
More than $13 million in state and federal grants will help fund several projects, while disaster recovery works worth more than $29 million are scheduled to continue across the shire.
Cr Wilkie said the budget was designed to maintain services residents expected while positioning council to meet future challenges.
“We’ve aimed to deliver a responsible, future-focused budget that keeps pace with rising costs and continues to deliver and maintain the assets and services underpinning Noosa’s quality of life,” he said.
