We are delivering a Budget that addresses today’s priorities while unlocking opportunities for tomorrow.
The Budget proposed today for Councillors to consider, reflects a disciplined and measured approach, with a clear focus on protecting the long-term financial strength of the Toowoomba Region. It acknowledges our responsibility not only to meet the needs of today, but to ensure Council remains financially strong, capable, and prepared for the future.
We understand the current economic climate is placing pressure on households and businesses across our Region. These pressures are real, and they have guided our Budget decisions. At the same time, the cost of delivering essential services continues to rise, from construction materials and uncertainty around fuel to the infrastructure our growing Region relies on, with construction costs increasing significantly in recent years, in some cases more than 40 per cent.
This Budget responds to those realities with care and discipline. Every decision has been made to balance affordability with the need to maintain essential services, invest in critical infrastructure, and secure long-term sustainability of our Region.
The Toowoomba Region is where ambition meets opportunity, and this Budget supports both. It backs our community today while continuing to invest in a strong, connected, and sustainable ‘tomorrow’.
This $728 million financial plan will allow Council to maintain and upgrade existing facilities and provide essential services while planning for an even brighter future.
This year’s Budget includes a base general rate rise of 6.9 per cent for ratepayers, equating to around $2.38 per week for a City Urban Residential A Property, after discounts are factored in, noting this figure will vary depending on individual circumstances.
It will include a 5 per cent pay-on-time discount for residential ratepayers. Pensioner rebates of $120 per year for general rates for some 11,000 pensioner households across the Region and a further pensioner rebate of $70 per year for water infrastructure charges for some 10,000 pensioner households.
We also recognise that some members of our community need additional support. Discounts and rebates remain available for eligible residents, including pensioners, to help ease financial pressure where possible.
We are now in the third year of a five-year price path for water utility charges, with an increase of 6.49 per cent for those connected to the Bulk Water Supply and 9.27 per cent for non-bulk water supply users.
In the Budget, residents can expect to see an ongoing commitment to improving water security throughout the Toowoomba Region.
With the initial creek crossings and access roads upgraded and detailed design nearing completion, construction is expected to begin soon on the Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project. Council has allocated $81.4 million in this year’s Budget to continue this project, which will raise the dam wall and widen the ungated spillway to improve flood resilience and water security.
Work will also continue on the Perseverance Raw Water Main Renewal. This project involves replacing pipes along the 28km route from the Pechey Reservoirs to the Mt Kynoch Water Treatment Plant to increase capacity. Council will also undertake the Cooby Dam inlet pipe replacement program, including intake tower and pipework upgrades.
In the coming year, Council will progress work on the Four Communities Project to connect the townships of Cambooya, Greenmount, Nobby and Clifton to a new Water Treatment Plant at Greenmount. This Budget includes $4 million to begin this multi-year project.
Close to $3 million will be invested in the design and construction of a new reservoir on Harch Road in Highfields, in addition to $5.3 million for a new sewer pump station and mains on Kuhls Road to resolve pumping issues and support future development in Highfields.
Council will also upgrade the Glenvale Reservoir Water Main, Pittsworth’s water supply infrastructure and the Yarraman Water Treatment Plant, while continuing work on a region-wide Water Main Renewal Program.
In 2026-27, we will continue the staged replacement of the Global SCADA system to deliver a safer and more reliable network and complete the region-wide Smart Water Meter Program.
There will be no increase to the Public Transport Levy which remains in place and has helped deliver improved bus stop technology, greater service reliability, event shuttle buses, planning for new regional bus and FlexiLink trials, expanded transport options and further progress toward a future passenger rail connection between Toowoomba and Brisbane.
It was rewarding to see the State Government’s long-term funding commitment to public transport last week, supporting the work Council has led in this space. The acknowledgment of Council’s Public Transport Levy, alongside our strong and sustained advocacy on behalf of the community, reflects the impact of our efforts and the progress we’ve driven.
In 2026-27, the levy will continue to focus on safer and more accessible bus stop infrastructure, particularly near schools, retirement villages and medical facilities, while also supporting new trial services for regional communities and extended bus options across Toowoomba.
In addition to improvements within Toowoomba, weekend FlexiLink services will be introduced for six-month trial periods in regional towns, along with a trial weekday bus service in other parts of the Region. The levy will also help support community transport schemes for regional towns.
Together, these initiatives are creating more reliable transport options and better connections for residents across the Region.
With one of the longest road infrastructure networks of any local government in Queensland, we are mindful of how important it is to improve public transport for our community while also continuing to upgrade our roads to the standard residents expect.
We are committed to improving the condition of our road network, particularly in rural communities. Council has set aside $3.6 million to upgrade Clifton Pittsworth Road between Leslie Bridge Road and Toowoomba Karara Road from single lane to double lane.
A major project this year is the continuation of the Highfields Road, OBrien Road and Kratzke Road intersection upgrade. This multi-year project will improve the intersection to accommodate growth in Highfields.
Other significant projects include a low-cost seal project on Railway Street in Cambooya, the Perth Street culvert upgrade, a low-cost seal upgrade for Chas Road in Crows Nest, the upgrade of Haden Road in Crows Nest to two lanes and pavement and surface rehabilitation on a section of Darling Street in Drayton.
In addition, Council will continue its Lower Order Road Upgrade Program, along with region-wide renewal programs for footpaths, resheeting and resealing.
Council will also invest $1 million in resurfacing the sealed runway at the Toowoomba Aerodrome.
I’m pleased to say this month’s announcement by the State Government to transition our Council from the metropolitan waste levy zone to the regional waste levy zone from 1 July 2026 means there will be no increase to waste charges this financial year. This is welcome news for our residents, because without that change Council would have needed to increase waste charges to recover an additional $3 million to offset the State Government’s Waste Disposal Levy.
We will always be strong with our advocacy efforts and are appreciative of the State Government listening to our concerns.
To do our part for the environment, and our Region, we will continue pursuing practical ways to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
To support this work, Council will invest $6.5 million in the rehabilitation of landfill sites at Crows Nest and Yarraman to meet Environmental Authority licence conditions. A further $1 million will go toward ongoing works on the Toowoomba Waste Centre Vertical Expansion Cell.
There will also be $4.5 million allocated to upgrading the Greenmount Waste Management Facility and $150,000 for upgrades at the Pittsworth Waste Management Facility.
In 2026-27, we will continue upgrading the Clifton Wastewater Treatment Plant, with $2 million allocated to ensure compliance with existing licence conditions and enable effluent to be reused and/or released to the creek. We will also spend $3 million to replace four sections of sewer gravity main along Goombungee Road in Cranley.
An exciting project to look forward to is the ongoing Toowoomba Escarpment Mountain Bike Trails project, with $5.7 million allocated to trail construction. Council will also repair erosion damage on the mountain bike trails in Jubilee Park.
In addition to the Southern Cross Oval clubhouse amenities replacement, Council will undertake park upgrades at Black Gully Linear Recreation Corridor and Smithfield Park in Harristown, while continuing upgrades at Gold Park.
Council is undertaking a multi-year network plan to identify gaps in the provision of skateparks across the Region, including safety improvement work being undertaken on Chalk Drive this year.
Council will also continue work this year on the Oakey Showground toilet and pavilion upgrade, as well as renewing ageing assets at the Jondaryan Woolshed.
We will continue our aquatic facilities renewal program, with a focus on the Oakey Aquatic Centre and planning for the future use of that facility for the community.
Another major priority this year will be progressing the Toowoomba Regional Planning Scheme. This critical document, which guides how the Region grows over the next 25 years, will be released for consultation to help ensure it shapes our communities, infrastructure, environment and overall liveability in the right way.
Let me be clear, increasing rates is not a decision Council takes lightly. However, like households and businesses, Council must respond to significant increases in unavoidable costs, including electricity, fuel, insurance and materials, if we are to maintain service delivery and continue investing in the infrastructure our community relies on.
Importantly, this Budget continues Council’s investment in roads, water, waste and community facilities, the essential building blocks of a liveable, connected and growing Region. These are investments that support our residents today while also preparing our Region for future growth.
The Budget reflects the priorities outlined in Council’s Operational and Corporate Plans.
Our $492 million operational and $236 million capital works program will deliver essential services and infrastructure to support our growing communities across the Toowoomba Region, while delivering a modest surplus. This will help us to sustain services, meet ongoing infrastructure needs and build resilience in uncertain times.
In the coming year, the major areas of capital expenditure will include:
- $9.06 million for Community Services and Facilities
- $18.7 million for Parks and Recreation
- $17.6 million for Business Operations
- $40.89 million for Roads, Drainage, Footpaths and Bikeways
- $14.94 million for Waste Services
- $12.5 million for Wastewater
- $40.98 million for Water
- $81.4 million for Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project.
At the commencement of today’s meeting, I spoke about a budget telling a story.
Perhaps the most visual summary for Toowoomba Regional Council is the Long-Term Financial Forecast (attachment 2 page 5) over the next 10 years. The 10-year forecast tells the story of our growing Region. A Region that needs to manage sustained population and employment growth while maintaining our enviable lifestyle. It also tells the story that our Council, like other growth Councils, will be reliant on financial support from state and federal governments to provide the infrastructure to support this growth. Strong partnerships with state and federal government will continue to see the Toowoomba Region as a solution to the east and service to our west.
This Budget is the product of a coordinated effort across the organisation, and I acknowledge all of my Councillor colleagues around the table, the work of Council’s CEO Mr Sal Petroccitto OAM, the Executive Leadership Team, and all staff in preparing a Budget that balances financial responsibility with community need. Their efforts ensure we continue to deliver efficient, high-quality services despite the pressures we face.
Over the next 12 months Council will continue to work hard alongside our community to strengthen our foundations, continue the journey of reform and improvements, measures which have assisted in ensuring we adopt a budget for 2026-27 that focuses on today’s priorities and tomorrow’s opportunities.
Thank you.
Mayor Geoff McDonald