General News
12 August, 2026
Council rates best in state
A NEW rates benchmarking report has found Cairns residents continue to receive some of the most competitively priced rates and utility charges in Queensland.
The 2026/27 rates benchmarking report found Cairns was one of the most affordable councils for residential ratepayers when compared with councils of similar populations and neighbouring local governments.
“This is one of my favourite items every year as it comes up,” Cr Brett Olds said at the latest council meeting.
“No-one likes getting rates bills, but we live in a user pays system and ratepayers are the users.
“But take a look at this report and compare it to other councils and our neighbours.
“This is factual, this is real … we continue to be the most affordable or best value rates in our area.”
Cr Olds said, not only were roads, footpaths parks and the Esplanade kept up to date, council had the added work of maintaining utilities for a large tourism population, yet Cairns was close to the median rates across the state.
Mayor Amy Eden (above) said the benchmarking report was “a chance to see how we stack up against other councils in Queensland and the hard work was done for the community to see”.
“We benchmark ourselves because ratepayers deserve evidence, not slogans,” she said.
“Independent benchmarking doesn’t change anyone’s bill, but it does answer a simple question: how does Cairns compare with other councils?
“This year’s report shows Cairns continues to provide some of the lowest residential rates and utility charges in Queensland while maintaining the services and infrastructure people rely on every day.
“That’s encouraging because it tells us we’re heading in the right direction, but we’ll never stop looking for ways to do better.”
The report provides a comparison of rates and utility charges for a selection of property types against the charges in other local government areas, with a population of over 100,000, and to neighbouring councils.
Results indicate rates and utility charges within the Cairns Regional Council area are at the lower end of the comparison to other local government areas, including Brisbane, Townsville, Toowoomba and the Gold and Sunshine coasts.
The report said since the LGAs over 100,000 population benchmarking began in 2016/17 Cairns had been the lowest in the residential by median valuation category.
Total annual charges include general rates, water access and usage, sewerage, waste utility and any separate charges where applicable.
