2023/24 Budget

The first billion-dollar budget in the history of the Sunshine Coast will “create now and for the future”.

Foreshore transformations, traffic-busting road improvements, a new district library, world-class sporting precincts and preserving and celebrating the environment are key inclusions in the 2023/24 budget.

The 2023/24 Council budget was adopted at a Special Meeting on 22 June 2023.

Budget snapshot

A budget with a positive operating result of $24.5 million.
A $1 billion budget to deliver a strong, better and sustainable Sunshine Coast.
A $331 million Capital Works Program that:
- invests in job-creating local infrastructure projects
- provides work for local trades and businesses
- improves access to services and facilities for our communities across the Sunshine Coast.
A 5.55% or $74 increase in the Minimum General Rate.
The Environment Levy will increase by $2 to $82. The Arts and Heritage levy will increase by $2 to $18. The Transport levy will increase by $2 to $47.
The cost to collect a standard 240 litre domestic wheelie and recycling bin will increase by $27.60 to $360.30.
Overall, rates and charges for the majority of owner occupiers on the minimum general rate will increase by $107.60 to $1913.80 - or 5.96%
All pensioners will benefit from a 7% increase in their pensioner rate concession.
Sole homeowners on full pensions will now receive a $290 concession, an increase of $19.
Those on part pensions will also benefit, with their annual concession increasing to maximums of $145 and $83 (sole and joint title), increasing from $136 and $77, respectively, last financial year.

Budget news

There's something for you in the 2023/24 Budget.

$366 million to develop a Strong Community including:

$19.9 million for Community and Cultural Development and Partnerships
$14.3 million for Community Venues
$2.9 million for Disaster Management
$41.9 million for Libraries
$6.1 million for Lifeguards
$204.4 million for Roads, Cycleways and Pathways
$12 million for Public Lighting
$64 million for Sporting Facilities

$327 million to maintain and enhance our Environment and Liveability including:

$17.2 million for Beaches, Foreshore, Coastal Infrastructure and Canals
$40.7 million for Bushland Conservation and Habitat
$102.9 million for Recreation Parks, Trails and Facilities
$3.1 million for Rivers Streams Estuaries and Water Bodies
$30.7 million for Stormwater Drainage
$20.8 million for Sustainable Growth and Network Planning
$111.7 million for Waste and Resource Management

$41 million to build our Resilient Economy including:

$25.9 million for Economic Development
$15 million for Holidays Parks

$156 million to deliver Service Excellence including:

$31.9 million for Development Services
$3.7 million for Cemeteries
$18.2 million for Local amenity and local laws
$4.9 million for Public health
$4.1 million for Quarries
$0.5 million for Customer and community relations
$50.3 million for Property management
$42.5 million for Road network management

Key local projects in Council’s $331 million Capital Works Program include:

Road/cycleway network

$24.5 million to reseal and rehabilitate Council’s sealed road network
$5.5 million to finalise the upgrade of Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba including the new Mayes Canal Bridge
$5.4 million to begin construction on the Oval Avenue and Gosling Street Upgrade, Caloundra
$4 million to finalise Stage 2 and 3 of North Arm-Yandina Creek Road Upgrade, Yandina Creek
$3.6 million to finalise Stage 4 of Camp Flat Road Upgrade, Bli Bli*
$2.3 million to begin design of Stringybark Road Footbridge and Pathway, Sippy Downs*
$2 million to upgrade Brandenburg Road, Mooloolah Valley

Streetscaping

$7.8 million to deliver the proposed Mooloolaba Foreshore Central Meeting Place Streetscape works
$6 million to begin construction on the major streetscape upgrade of First Avenue, Maroochydore*
$2.8 million to finalise placemaking and streetscape works in Eumundi Town Centre*
$1.7 million to begin construction of Nambour Namba Place Streetscape Improvements
$1.3 million to continue work on Maleny Business Centre Streetscape works, Maple Street
$1.1 million to complete Stage 2 of Landsborough Streetscape works*

Sport and Recreation

$14.4 million to begin construction of the new Honeyfarm Road Sports Precinct
$9.1 million to upgrade Kawana Waters Regional Aquatic Centre
$2.9 million to design and replace roof structure at Caloundra Indoor Sports Stadium*
$1.6 million to begin construction on Coolum Sports Complex Intersection*
$700,000 to upgrade North Shore Multi-Sports Change Room, Mudjimba*

Community Facilities

$21.7 million to begin construction of the new district library and community meeting space, Caloundra
$3.1 million to finalise detailed design of Sunshine Coast Stadium Expansion
$3 million to progress design of Nambour Administration Precinct
$706,000 to begin detailed design on Sippy Downs Library and Community Venue

Coast, Canals and Waterways

$2.2 million to finalise Caloundra Headland Coastal Pathway*
$950,000 to renew revetment walls throughout the region
$500,000 Bradman Avenue Revetment Walls renewals

*State Funding

**Federal Funding

Find out what's happening in your area:

Division 1

Banya, Baringa, Beerburrum, Beerwah, Bells Creek, Bribie Island North, Caloundra West, Coochin Creek, Corbould Park, Gagalba, Glass House Mountains, Landsborough, Little Mountain, Meridan Plains, Nirimba, Peachester.

Division 2

Battery Hill, Caloundra, Caloundra West, Dicky Beach, Golden Beach, Kings Beach, Little Mountain, Moffat Beach, Pelican Waters, Shelly Beach.

Division 3

Aroona, Bokarina, Birtinya, Currimundi, Little Mountain, Meridan Plains, Warana, Wurtulla.

Division 4

Alexandra Headland, Buddina, Maroochydore, Minyama, Mooloolaba, Parrearra, Warana.

Division 5

Bald Knob, Balmoral Ridge, Booroobin, Cambroon, Chevallum, Conondale, Crohamhurst, Curramore, Diamond Valley, Elaman Creek, Eudlo, Flaxton, Glenview Hunchy, Ilkley, Kiel Mountain, Landers Shoot, Maleny, Montville, Mooloolah Valley, Mount Mellum, North Maleny, Palmwoods, Palmview Forest, Peachester, Reesville, Tanawha, West Woombye, Witta, Woombye, Wootha.

Division 6

Buderim Pines, Buderim Meadows, Mountain Creek (Glenfields, Brightwater), Palmview (Harmony), Sippy Downs (Chancellor Park)

Division 7

Buderim, Diddillibah, Forest Glen, Kiels Mountain, Kuluin, Kunda Park, Maroochydore, Mons, Rosemount, Tanawha.

Division 8

Coolum Beach, Marcoola, Maroochydore, Mount Coolum, Mudjimba, Pacific Paradise, Point Arkwright, Twin Waters, Yaroomba.

Division 9

Bli Bli, Coolum Beach, Doonan, Marcoola, Maroochy River, Mount Coolum, Pacific Paradise, Peregian Beach, Peregian Springs, Valdora, Verrierdale, Weyba Downs and Yandina Creek.

Division 10

Belli Park, Bridges, Burnside, Coes Creek, Coolabine, Cooloolabin, Dulong, Eerwah Vale, Eumundi, Gheerulla, Highworth, Image Flat, Kenilworth, Kiamba, Kidaman Creek, Kulangoor, Kureelpa, Mapleton, Nambour, Ninderry, North Arm, Obi Obi, Parklands, Perwillowen, Rosemount, Towen Mountain, Yandina.

Investing in our future

The Arts and Heritage, Transport and Environment levies, paid by all ratepayers, enable us to preserve and celebrate our cultural heritage and arts, plan for our region's future transport needs and build on our investment in our natural assets.

Arts and Heritage Levy raises $2.75 million

The Arts and Heritage Levy will increase by $2 to $18.

The Arts Program will increase by $1 to $4, and will go directly to achieving the vision and goals of the Sunshine Coast Arts Plan 2018–2038 which includes developing and delivering projects which:

provide career pathways for the Sunshine Coast’s local emerging artists
continue developing a sustainable advocacy and philanthropic approach to support the sector
support sustainable business models in the arts and creative industries sector
support content creation by our region’s artists, and specifically First Nations artistic content
increase participation in the arts to support our region’s cultural vibrancy.

The Heritage Program will increase by $1 to $14, and will continue to be spent on achieving the outcomes of the Sunshine Coast Heritage Plan 2021–2031 including:

supporting new research into regional stories
conserving our region’s heritage assets, including State Heritage-listed Bankfoot House and State Heritage-listed Landsborough Museum and the significant collections of both facilities
supporting our region’s community museums and heritage organisations through grants, practical workshops, professional development, community programs, collaborative marketing and events
supporting cultural heritage projects developed in collaboration with the First Nations Peoples of our region – Kabi Kabi People, Jinibara People, and the Descendants of Australian South Sea Islander Peoples.

Transport Levy raises $7.1 million

The Transport Levy will increase by $2 to $47, and will be allocated to:

supporting the development of the Detailed Business Case for the Sunshine Coast Public Transport project being led by the Department of Transport and Main Roads
progressing the implementation of the five-year travel change behaviour program ‘ThinkChange’
improving access links to bus stops as well as initiatives for trial bus service changes and pilots
supporting the trial RideScore initiative, which was well received at its launch last year
supporting the two Flexilink services as well as the Council Link service for eligible persons travelling to their nearest centre
supporting research and investigations to understand changes over time in how people travel.

Environment Levy raises $12.5 million

The Environment Levy will increase by $2 to $82 and will be allocated to:

supporting the implementation of the Environment and Liveability Strategy
protecting and enhancing our valued natural environment, including our native plants and animals, waterways and wetlands and coastal environments
funding the purchase and management of land for conservation, catchment and coastal rehabilitation projects
supporting partnerships with private landholders, plus environment and community groups.

The budget was developed in conjunction with:

council's Operational Plan 2023/24 (PDF, 3.81MB)
and in accordance with council's Financial Sustainability Plan 2015-2025 (PDF, 1.95MB).

2023/24 Budget schedules

You can access separate sections of council's Budget from the listing below or in the 2023/24 Budget Book (PDF, 7.01MB).

The 2023/24 budget schedules were presented as attachments and appendices to the budget adoption report. The schedules include:

Levy Programs

Environment Levy Program (PDF, 111KB)
Transport Levy Program (PDF, 82KB)
Arts and Heritage Levy Program (PDF, 82KB)

Policies

The following policies have been adopted as part of the 2023/24 Budget:

2023/24 Debt Policy (PDF, 206KB)
2023/24 Revenue Policy (PDF, 192KB)
2023/24 Investment Policy (PDF, 575KB)
2023/24 Derivatives Policy (PDF, 198KB)
2023 Environment Levy Policy (PDF, 234KB)
2023 Transport Levy Policy (PDF, 267KB)
2023 Arts and Heritage Levy Policy (PDF, 239KB)

Along with the 2023/24 Revenue Statement (PDF, 8.2MB)