General News
30 June, 2025
Rate rise of $155 a year
THE average ratepayer on the minimum general rate in Cairns will pay $155 a year more in rates this year.
The regional council brought down a record $723.7 million budget on Wednesday with most ratepayers facing a 5.9 per cent increase or less compared to 6.7 per cent last year.
Many ratepayers will pay an estimated $3257 in the 2025-26 financial year – up from $3102.
Mayor Amy Eden said it was “impossible” to reduce the budget and bring in lower rate increases because the council was faced with paying $260.1m for the next phase of the Cairns Water Security Stage 1 project – the most in one financial year.
The budget was not unanimous with Cr Cathy Zeiger (Div. 3) voting against it after her attempt to stop the increases in rates on retirement villages and relocatable home parks failed.
She was hoping to introduce a grandfather clause to protect existing residents from paying the new rate with it only imposed on new people buying into retirement villages.
However, Cr Zeiger was able to persuade councillors to introduce the new rate rise over four years, paying a quarter in the first, half in the second, 75 per cent in the third and then the full amount in the fourth year and subsequent years.
The council also extended the $335 pensioner concession to eligible retirement village residents.
Once again about 40 placard-waving pensioners and residents of retirement villages peacefully demonstrated in the council chambers.
Spokesman Kevin McRae said the outcome was predictable and disappointing but the phasing in of the rise was “a minor victory”.
He said he already paid $2200 a year in rates and faced an extra $900 – “a significant impost on our pension”.
Mr McRae said pensioners would have to budget “more carefully”.
Cr Eden said the budget was one for the future of the region.
“This isn’t a flashy budget. It’s a focused one – built for the times,” she said in her speech to the chamber.
“We know many households are feeling the pressure – whether it’s at the supermarket checkout, the petrol pump or the rates notice in the letterbox.
“These aren’t abstract numbers. They’re real-life costs influencing everyday decisions.
“(The) council is not immune to those pressures. We’re operating in a high-cost environment, with rising expenses across materials and essential services.
“This is a budget that meets that reality with discipline, direction and a quiet determination to get things back on track – and keep them there.
“We are turning the page – from years of spending more than we had coming in, rising debt and dwindling cash reserves – to a renewed focus on financial discipline.
“That means reducing debt, rebuilding flexibility and investing where it matters most: in the essentials, in the basics and in the future.
“This budget begins the careful, deliberate work of restoring balance and it is grounded in purpose and people.
“The state government’s recent land revaluation – with an average increase of 30 per cent across our region – placed significant pressure on rates.
“To help manage that impact, we’ve adjusted the rate in the dollar to keep the increase as low as possible.”
Deputy mayor Brett Olds said it was his 10th budget and the first that had “run most smoothly” during discussions.
Cr Rob Pyne (Div. 5) said the budget “strikes the right balance”.
Cr Matthew Tickner (Div 2) said it was “fiscally sensible” with “the community the focus at its core”.
The figures that matter in next financial year
Sewerage and waste collection: up 4.5%
Water access: increasing by $77 per year – around $1.50 per week
Water usage: up by 17 cents per kilolitre for residential and 18 cents for commercial
$288.1 million for drinking water infrastructure, including $260.1 m for CWSS1
$32.9m for sewage collection and treatment
$2.9m for waste and recycling
$54.7m for roads, footpaths, and drainage
$21.8m for community assets – libraries, parks, and pools
Over $3.7m for new footpaths in the suburbs
$3.2m to upgrade arts and entertainment facilities
Over $2.1m for sporting facility upgrades
Nearly $3m in park upgrades
$1.3m for pool improvements
$2.4m to revitalise Muddy’s Playground
$1.4m for the Tanks Arts Centre
$830,000 for libraries
$3.5m for tourism promotion.
More details in next week’s Cairns Local News.
