2025-26 Sunshine Coast Council Budget | Sunshine Coast Council

We’ve made sensible choices to keep our region financially secure, while maintaining essential services and investing in safer roads, easing traffic congestion and building the infrastructure we need.

We’re enhancing outdoor spaces and protecting our beautiful natural environment from the coast to the hinterland, while investing in facilities, programs and events that help people of all ages and abilities stay active, connected, and engaged. Every dollar is being spent wisely and with purpose.

We’re planning ahead and putting our community at the heart of every decision, so the Sunshine Coast stays connected, liveable and thriving.

Mayor's speech

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Budget 2025-26 highlights

Council is committing $262.3 million to infrastructure that supports our growing needs and protects our Sunshine Coast’s lifestyle. Some of these capital works projects include:

$30.2 million
road maintenance of sealed and unsealed roads
$23 million
libraries
$22.4 million
park amenities, turf and landscape maintenance
$12.6 million
digital systems and technology platforms
$11.3 million
dredging and beach renourishment
$4.4 million
grants and partnerships

Our commitment to keeping our region connected, liveable and thriving

Developing a strong community
We’re investing $129 million in our community venues; disaster management; libraries; lifeguards; roads, cycleways and pathways; public lighting; and sporting facilities.
Enhancing our environment and liveability
We’re investing $343 million to maintain and enhance our beaches, foreshore, coastal infrastructure and canals; recreation parks, trails and facilities, stormwater drainage, waste; and resource management.
Building our resilient economy
We’re investing $35 million in economic development; investment attraction; tourism; major event sponsorship; and holidays parks.
Delivering service excellence and managing for growth
We’re investing $380 million in planning, building approvals and development assessments; cemeteries; public open spaces; local laws; public health; customer service; and road network management.

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For every $100 in rates:

Roads and transport – $34
Parks and gardens – $19
Community facilities and services – $26
Environment – $8
Economic initiatives – $9
Organisational excellence – $4

Your rates at a glance

Safer roads, projects that unite us and delivering the services our community enjoys every day are at the heart of a ‘future-focused and responsible’ 2025-26 Sunshine Coast Council Budget.

Rates

More than 60 per cent of owner-occupiers will remain on the minimum general rate of $1,586.30 per annum – an increase of $2.10 per week.

Pensioner concessions

Pensioner concessions will increase, collectively saving our pensioners $5 million this financial year. A single pensioner on a full pension will now receive $326.60 per year (an increase of $22.60), while a pensioner couple on a full pension will receive $255.60 per year (an increase of $17.60). Single and couple part pensioners will now receive $163.30 (an increase of $11.30) and $93.40 (an increase of $6.40) per year, respectively.

Payment plans

Council is offering six-month interest-free payment plans for ratepayers. If you’re struggling, please reach out before the due date.

Environment Levy

Environment Levy remains at $82 per annum.

Arts and Heritage Levy

Arts and Heritage Levy remains at $20 per annum.

Transport Levy

Transport Levy reduced by $3.08 to $43.92 per annum, by pausing the Futures Fund contribution this year.

Waste management

Waste management charges for a 240-litre wheelie bin (general waste and recycling) and the 240 litre garden organics bin collection services will rise a total of $2.35 a week to $549 per annum. The updated waste charges reflected the real cost of delivering essential services such as weekly waste collections, recycling and safe landfill management. A portion of the rise in residential bin collection fees is due to the State Government’s Waste Levy, which adds $37.70 to the cost of a standard 240 litre bin service this year. While Council receives $10.3 million to offset this, it falls well short of the $26 million we must pay. We have no control over this bin tax.

Transitory accommodation

The rate category has been adjusted to encourage more houses back into the long-term rental market. This change supports a more balanced housing system. Council acknowledges that many unit owners, particularly in hotel precincts, cannot rent to long-term tenants. That’s why the transitory accommodation rate increase for units will be more modest, aligned with the increase applied to all other rate categories.

Key local projects for building for our future

Roads and transport projects
See the projects for this year's budget
Stormwater projects
See the projects for this year's budget
Sport and Community Facilities projects
See the projects for this year's budget
Streetscape and place enhancements projects
See the projects for this year's budget
Coast and waterways projects
See the projects for this year's budget
Waste projects
See the projects for this year's budget

Explore how Budget 2025–26 supports your local 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 1
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Division 2
Battery Hill, Caloundra, Caloundra West, Dicky Beach, Golden Beach, Kings Beach, Little Mountain, Moffat Beach, Pelican Waters, Shelly Beach.
Division 2
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Division 3
Aroona, Bokarina, Birtinya, Currimundi, Little Mountain, Meridan Plains, Warana, Wurtulla.
Division 3
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Division 4
Alexandra Headland, Buddina, Maroochydore, Minyama, Mooloolaba, Parrearra, Warana.
Division 4
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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 5
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Division 6
Buderim Pines, Buderim Meadows, Mountain Creek (Glenfields, Brightwater), Palmview (Harmony), Sippy Downs (Chancellor Park).
Division 6
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Division 7
Buderim, Diddillibah, Forest Glen, Kiels Mountain, Kuluin, Kunda Park, Maroochydore, Mons, Rosemount, Tanawha.
Division 7
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Division 8
Coolum Beach, Marcoola, Maroochydore, Mount Coolum, Mudjimba, Pacific Paradise, Point Arkwright, Twin Waters, Yaroomba.
Division 8
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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 9
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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.
Division 10
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Preparing for growth and supporting our community now

The transport, environment and arts and heritage levies, paid by all ratepayers, enable us to deliver our region’s transport needs, build on our investment in our natural assets and preserve and celebrate our cultural heritage and arts.

Arts and Heritage Levy
The $20 levy includes $14 to fund initiatives under the Sunshine Coast Heritage Plan 2021–2031, including conservation of key sites like Bankfoot House; support for community museums; and programs that preserve and share local stories and $6 will support the Sunshine Coast Creative Arts Plan 2023–2038, delivering career pathways for local artists and growing community participation and audiences.
Environment Levy
The $82 levy includes initiatives to support our threatened and iconic species such as koalas, shorebirds and marine turtles; new projects to restore our waterways and improve water quality; managing invasive plants and animals; maintaining our Environment Levy conservation estate; and, coastal dune rehabilitation, shoreline erosion management and coastal health monitoring.
Transport Levy
The $43.92 levy supports more safer, connected and accessible transports options across the region. It funds initiatives focused on protecting vulnerable pedestrians; supporting those with mobility challenges; and trial projects such as hinterland transport services, late-night services in Maroochydore and a high-frequency hop-on hop-off coastal bus service.

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Bringing our vision to life

How this Budget supports our community

This year’s Budget has been shaped by the priorities outlined in Council’s Operational Plan 2025–26, ensuring we deliver on the services and infrastructure our community relies on.

But it’s more than just numbers – it’s a reflection of our commitment to a connected, liveable and thriving future.

These three principles – drawn from our 2025–30 Corporate Plan – guide every decision we make, and they are at the heart of this Budget.

Together, they represent our shared vision for a stronger, more vibrant community.