254 meetings on the record
Council budget, rates and governance decisions
Highlights
- There is no new approval from this meeting for the proposed project changes, budget increase, survey or additional oval works.
- Administration must report back on the petition; the extract does not establish whether the proposed increase was adopted.
- The agreement supports a community safety and education organisation, subject to the annual budget process for future years.
- Residents with overdue accounts or difficulty paying rates and charges may be affected by updated recovery and hardship arrangements.
- The review may lead to changes in beach surveillance and operating hours.
- Community groups and event organisers will have an opportunity to apply for program support.
Decisions
Associated project proposals lapsed
Because the rescission motion failed, the associated Part B proposals—including recommencing or revising the oval project, considering updated cost estimates, and conducting a representative resident survey—lapsed and were not voted on.
There is no new approval from this meeting for the proposed project changes, budget increase, survey or additional oval works.
Rates-increase petition referred
Council received and referred petition PT01-07/26, signed by 79 people, opposing the proposed 6% rate increase for 2026/27.
Administration must report back on the petition; the extract does not establish whether the proposed increase was adopted.
Constable Care sponsorship approved
Council approved entering into a sponsorship agreement with Constable Care, with the extract identifying proposed three-year funding of $38,100 in the draft 2026/27 budget and a Year 3 amount of $40,400 excluding GST.
The agreement supports a community safety and education organisation, subject to the annual budget process for future years.
Debt recovery and hardship policies adopted
Council adopted the Debt Recovery & Management Policy and Rates & Charges Hardship Policy.
Residents with overdue accounts or difficulty paying rates and charges may be affected by updated recovery and hardship arrangements.
Beach lifeguard services to be reviewed
Council requested investigations into professional lifeguard capacity, additional staffing and a possible 6am patrol trial, with a briefing due to the October 2026 Governance Advisory Committee.
The review may lead to changes in beach surveillance and operating hours.
Festival and event funding increased
Approved the Connected Nillumbik Festival and Event Program for 2027–2030, including an increase of $30,000 per year to the annual budget and a new EOI process.
Community groups and event organisers will have an opportunity to apply for program support.
Draft unpaid-rates property-sale policy released for consultation
Endorsed public exhibition of the draft Sale of Properties for Unpaid Rates Policy for 21 days commencing in August 2026.
Residents can make submissions, and eligible submitters can request to be heard before a future committee meeting.
Rates hardship policy updated
Adopted the updated Rates Financial Hardship Policy.
The policy sets the framework for assistance and payment arrangements for ratepayers experiencing financial hardship.
Yarrambat change rooms contract approved
Approved the Yarrambat War Memorial Change Rooms Development contract and authorised contract execution and certain project variations, with further Council approval required for variations exceeding the approved budget.
The decision enables the change rooms project to proceed during the stated construction term.
Hurstville property acquisition approved
Approved acquisition of Lot A in DP386600 at 1 Carrington Avenue, Hurstville, including budget and funding authority, with operational-land classification after settlement.
Adds a council-controlled property in Hurstville and may enable future operational use.
2026 standing orders adopted
Adopted the Sunshine Coast Council Standing Orders 2026.
Council has formally adopted its updated meeting and governance procedures.
Waste-centre tender process redirected
Council rejected all tenders for the Ballina Resource Recovery Centre main entry works and authorised negotiations because bids exceeded the current budget.
The entry project may face changed timing or costs.
Staged procurement approved for Southern Water Treatment Plant
Council approved an EOI process to shortlist proponents before written tenders and an Early Contractor Involvement process for the Southern Water Treatment Plant design-and-construction contract.
The decision establishes the procurement pathway for a major water infrastructure project.
Art gallery rectification project progresses to detailed design
Council endorsed further design phases for the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery using Concept Options 3 and 4, while deferring any final construction scope, delivery methodology and project budget decision.
The gallery project moves forward, but reopening and final costs remain subject to further Council decisions.
Civic Administration Building planning advanced
Council endorsed the building location for the Civic Administration Building Project and approved procurement of a probity adviser and functional brief and design development work to refine scope, requirements and cost estimates. The vote was carried 8–3.
The decision advances planning for a major civic building and future Council expenditure, but does not finalise the construction budget.
Bega Saleyards future planning
Endorsed a Bega Saleyards infrastructure needs analysis and site-specific asset-management plan, noted the $50,000 2026/27 budget allocation, dissolved the stakeholder advisory group and required a user and stakeholder forum.
This starts a formal process to assess the facility’s renewal, upgrade and maintenance needs and seek input from users.
Microsoft licensing procurement
Accepted the confidential recommendations for the Microsoft cloud user and on-premises server licensing procurement, subject to the contract terms and approved delegations.
The decision supports Council’s technology licensing arrangements and continuity of digital services.
Interim June 2026 financial report noted
Council resolved to note the interim financial position, results and ratios for June 2026.
The decision records Council’s formal consideration of provisional year-end finances before audit.
Audit and Risk Management Committee minutes adopted
Council adopted the minutes of the Audit and Risk Management Committee meeting held on 4 June 2026.
The adopted minutes include the committee’s oversight of internal audit, risk, integrity and financial sustainability.
Expanded Rural Fire Levy arrangements
Council’s citywide Rural Fire Levy arrangements support all six rural fire brigades, including the North Stradbroke Island and Redlands brigades.
The levy is collected through rates notices and funds rural-fire budgets, equipment and capital works.
Topics
Future infrastructure funding avenues
Future funding considerations may include asset sales in Gordon Ward and other funding avenues. Separate future consideration includes the St Ives basketball courts rates levy after the loan is fully paid.
Potential future funding measures could affect council assets, local charges or infrastructure priorities, but no new levy was adopted at this meeting.
Confidential budget discussions
Council held confidential discussions about a matter relating to the local government’s budget; no public decision or financial detail was provided in the extract.
The extract does not disclose the budget matter’s substance or any resulting financial impact.
Rates discount for Australian Defence Force personnel and veterans
Council noted that current law does not permit a rates discount for serving Australian Defence Force personnel or veterans beyond existing pensioner arrangements, and considered extending the existing discount to non-pensioner veterans.
Veterans seeking a council-rates concession may not currently qualify, and any change would require consideration within legal limits.
Proposed rates increase petition
A petition opposing the proposed 6% rates increase for 2026/27 was received and referred to the relevant Directorate for a report back to Council.
The petition represents resident concern about future rate bills, but the extract does not record the final rates adoption decision.
Governance and election submissions
Council endorsed submissions on proposed councillor conduct reforms and draft local-government election cost principles, including comments supporting reduced prepoll arrangements.
The submissions contribute to State and electoral administration reforms affecting future councils and elections.
Annual governance attestation
Council endorsed the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee annual attestation statement for publication in the 2025-26 Annual Report.
The statement provides public information about Council’s governance, audit and risk oversight.
Audit and Risk Committee membership
Council reappointed independent Audit and Risk Committee member John Watson for a further three-year term beginning 1 September 2026.
The appointment maintains independent governance and financial oversight.
Sports lighting capital program
Council endorsed a program of works using the adopted Sports Field Lighting Upgrades budget and noted a future report would consider lighting audits for additional sporting surfaces.
Provides a staged approach to improving lighting at sports facilities.
2026/27 rates and charges donations
The 2026/27 rates and charges donation report was noted, including estimated water-consumption and wastewater-usage charges, but no specific charge amounts or percentage changes were provided in the extract.
Residents should consult the full rates and charges report for exact amounts and eligibility details.
Audit and risk governance
Council approved the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee strategic and annual work plans and noted updated internal-audit documents.
The decision supports Council oversight, risk management and internal auditing.
Eat Local Month cost and economic outcomes
The 2025 Eat Local Month program recorded expenditure of $329,552, revenue of $177,940 and a $151,612 draw from Council’s budget. The event reported more than $2.2 million in economic contribution and participation by over 100 local businesses and community organisations.
Residents can see the reported cost to Council and the claimed regional economic benefits of the event.
Vacant residential property rating data
The City reported 245 vacant residential properties assessed at the standard rate, with combined GRV of $6,894,930, and 63 vacant residential properties paying the minimum payment, with total GRV of $657,330.
Provides context for how vacant residential properties contribute to the rates base; the extracted material does not show a new rates decision.
Sports precinct budget and landscaping risks
Council was told excavation costs beneath the athletics track could increase if unexpected ground conditions are found. Landscaping is a Heritage NSW-related consent condition and will proceed.
Potential cost pressure may affect the project budget and delivery.
Rates and levy revenue
Rates and levies were $1.1 million above budget, attributed to increased water consumption. Rate arrears, including the State Emergency Management Levy, were 4.02% at 30 June 2026 against a target below 5%.
The result indicates stronger-than-expected revenue and provides a snapshot of outstanding rate payments, but no new rate increase was adopted in the extracted material.
Fees, charges and development activity
Fees and charges were $18.4 million above budget, including higher private works, development, water infrastructure, planning and commercial waste income.
Higher activity and demand are contributing to Council revenue and may indicate increased development, construction and waste-service use.
Capital works and Cressbrook Dam project
The Capital Works Program was 99% complete and $1.6 million below budget. The Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project was $71.3 million below budget because the design phase continued.
The figures reflect project timing and may affect when major infrastructure works and expenditure occur.