Special Budget (SB) - 30 March 2026

Key decisions

• Budget documents kept confidential
  The committee recommended that all budget documentation remain confidential under the Local Government Act until the 2026-27 budget is adopted, unless the Chief Executive Officer decides otherwise.
  Residents will not see full draft budget details until formal budget adoption or an earlier CEO decision.
• No change proposed to 2025-26 adopted differential general rates
  In response to petition feedback, the committee noted there are no proposed changes to the 2025-26 adopted differential general rates and said it would consider continuing the 2025-26 retirement village rating structure for 2026-27.
  This indicates broad continuity in rating settings, including possible continuation of the retirement village rating approach.
• City credit rating reaffirmed
  The committee noted Queensland Treasury Corporation’s credit review and economic update, including reaffirmation of the City’s credit rating as Strong with a Neutral outlook.
  A stable credit rating can affect Council’s borrowing capacity and long-term budget management.
• Rates strategy update deferred to next budget meeting
  The committee noted analysis for the 2026-27 general rates and separate charges strategy and requested a further update at the 22 April 2026 Special Budget Committee meeting.
  Key decisions on rates and charges are still being developed and will return for further consideration.
• Service changes endorsed with some items removed
  The committee endorsed service integration and demand-led operating changes, but removed Items 5, 6, 7 and 8 from Attachment 1, and said funding mechanisms for Item 8 should be discussed through the City’s operational budget process.
  Some proposed operational changes will proceed, while several items were held back or shifted for later budget discussion.
• Waste financial option selected for 2026-27 budget
  The committee noted the Waste and Resource Recovery Services financial sustainability report and endorsed Option 3 of Addendum 1 for inclusion in the 2026-27 budget.
  This may affect future waste service pricing and related waste budget settings, although the detailed confidential option was not publicly released.
• Strategic asset assessment next steps endorsed
  The committee endorsed the next steps in the Strategic Asset Assessment report.
  This supports further planning on how Council manages and prioritises its assets, which can influence future projects and spending.
• 2032 Games infrastructure plan supported as planning framework
  The committee supported the 2032 Games Infrastructure Plan as a planning and coordination framework, with Pizzey Park Action Sports Hub and Damian Leeding Memorial Park / Regatta Waters Lake Upgrade to progress to reports and funding consideration in the 2026-27 budget deliberations. Other legacy projects are to be considered through future annual budgets.
  This advances local Olympic and Paralympic legacy planning and may lead to future investment in major sport and recreation facilities.
• Advocacy to pause further waste levy increases
  The committee recommended that the Mayor write to the Queensland Government asking for any further increases to the State Waste Disposal Levy to be paused for 12 months due to fuel price pressures and cost-of-living impacts.
  If successful, this could help limit cost pressures on Council and ratepayers linked to waste charges.

Important topics

• City Budget Survey 2026-27
  The committee noted the annual City Budget Survey 2026-27 results, but the report and attachments were confidential and redacted in full.
  Survey feedback was considered in budget planning, though detailed results were not publicly available in these minutes.
• Petition about rates and retirement village rating structure
  The committee noted petition feedback and directed that the chief petitioner be advised of Council’s decision and asked to inform other petitioners.
  Shows resident concerns about rating arrangements were formally considered during budget discussions.
• Draft Four Year Capital Expenditure Program
  Item 7.8 on the draft Four Year Capital Expenditure Program 2026-27 to 2029-30 was deferred via procedural motion.
  Major capital spending plans were not decided at this meeting and remain to be considered later.

Resident impacts

• Draft 2026-27 budget decisions are progressing, but many details remain confidential until budget adoption.
• Current differential general rates are not proposed to change, based on the material considered at this meeting.
• The retirement village rating structure used in 2025-26 may continue into 2026-27.
• Waste service budget settings will proceed on a selected confidential option that may influence future charges.
• Games-related projects at Pizzey Park and Damian Leeding Memorial Park / Regatta Waters Lake are moving closer to budget consideration.
• Further rates and separate charges decisions are expected at the next Special Budget Committee meeting on 22 April 2026.
• Council is lobbying the State to pause further waste levy increases because of cost-of-living pressures.

Places affected

• Pizzey Park (facility)
  Action Sports Hub identified for report and funding consideration in 2026-27 budget deliberations under the 2032 Games Infrastructure Plan.
• Miami Sport and Arts Precinct (project area)
  Pizzey Park Action Sports Hub is to be considered consistently with a whole-of-precinct master plan.
• Damian Leeding Memorial Park (facility)
  Upgrade project to progress to report and funding consideration in 2026-27 budget deliberations.
• Regatta Waters Lake (facility)
  Lake upgrade linked to Damian Leeding Memorial Park to progress to report and funding consideration.
• City of Gold Coast (local government area)
  Budget, rates, waste services, asset planning and Games legacy decisions apply across the city.

Next steps

• Bring back a further update on the 2026-27 general rates and separate charges strategy
  22 April 2026
• Advise the chief petitioner of Council’s decision and request they inform other petitioners
  After the meeting
• Include endorsed waste financial option in 2026-27 budget preparation
  During 2026-27 budget deliberations
• Prepare reports and funding consideration for Pizzey Park Action Sports Hub and Damian Leeding Memorial Park / Regatta Waters Lake Upgrade
  During 2026-27 budget deliberations
• Assess unfunded Games legacy projects through future annual budget processes
  Future annual budgets
• Mayor to write to the Queensland Government seeking a 12-month pause on further waste levy increases
  After the meeting

Extracted minutes text

866 UNCONFIRMED MINUTES SPECIAL BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING MONDAY 30 MARCH 2026 9:00AM The meeting commenced at 9:05am City of Gold Coast Council Chambers 135 Bundall Road Surfers Paradise 866 Meeting of the Special Budget Committee Unconfirmed Minutes Monday 30 March 2026 ORDER OF BUSINESS 1 ATTENDANCE/APOLOGIES .................................................................... 3 2 LEAVE OF ABSENCE ............................................................................... 3 3 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ................................................................ 3 4 CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS ........................................... 4 5 COMMITTEE FORWARD PLANNING SCHEDULE ....