General News
22 October, 2026
Free body corporate seminar for apartment owners
RISING insurance premiums and increasing levies are placing mounting pressure on Cairns apartment owners, with many body corporate committees facing difficult decisions as they balance affordability with the need to adequately protect their strata communities.
Across the state, lot owners are increasingly questioning why body corporate levies continue to rise, often without fully understanding the pressures that influence committee budgeting decisions.
Insurance costs, maintenance requirements, major repairs and legislative compliance are all contributing to growing financial demands on strata living, making budgeting more complex than ever for volunteer committee members.
Archers the Strata Professionals chief executive Nicky Lonergan said many lot holders only saw the final contribution notice and were often unaware of the factors driving levy increases.
“Insurance is one of the largest and most important expenses within many body corporate budgets, yet it is often one of the least understood,” she said.
“Committees across Queensland are trying to balance rising insurance premiums with ongoing maintenance requirements, future capital works and legislative responsibilities, all while keeping costs as manageable as possible for owners.
“The challenge is that many lot owners only see the resulting levy notice rather than the detailed financial planning that goes into it.
“It’s our job as a sector to better break this down from an awareness point of view and ensure that everyone completely understands what sits under that levy and what it covers – for today and in the longer term.”
Ms Lonergan said understanding body corporate finances had become increasingly important as more Queenslanders embraced strata living.
“One of the questions we often hear from owners is ‘Where does all the money actually go?’,” she said.
“The reality is that levy funds support everything from insurance and day-to-day operating costs through to long-term maintenance planning, compliance obligations and future capital works, and that’s before you throw in the mix ageing assets.”
To help bridge the knowledge gap and educate strata owners about how their levies are calculated, Archers and Smart Strata are hosting a free community education seminar at Pullman Reef Casino on Thursday, October 29.
The seminar, titled ‘Committee Essentials: Understanding Body Corporate Finances’, will take attendees through the complete financial lifecycle of a body corporate, highlighting where owners’ funds are allocated across insurance, maintenance, administration, repairs and other essential expenses that keep strata communities operating effectively.
Admission is free and not limited to Archers clients, with any Cairns lot holders and body corporate committee members encouraged to attend to gain a better understanding of how body corporate finances work and where the levies they pay are ultimately invested.
The event at the casino is on Thursday 29 October from 5.30pm-8pm. To register, visit www.cnslocal.s.gy/M1ez85
