Redland City Council books $4.65m waste levy revenue in 2026-27 budget

Redland City Council has recognised $4,646,919 in Queensland waste levy advance payment revenue in its 2026-27 budget, adopted at a special budget meeting in Cleveland on Tuesday. The minutes also say the household impact of the levy continues to rise in future years.

The advance payment was brought forward by the Queensland Government under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. Its purpose is to help offset the direct impact of the waste disposal levy on households in the Redland City local government area.

The waste levy funding sits within a wider budget that lifts total rates and utility charges revenue by 11.23 per cent compared with 2025-26. In his budget address, the Acting Mayor said the cost of the waste levy on households was estimated at $4 million in the coming financial year, rising to $8.1 million in 2030-31.

He said around 90 per cent of Redland City’s rates burden falls on residential householders, leaving the council with less commercial and industrial base to spread the cost. Council had worked to keep household rates as low as possible while facing higher service costs and state cost shifting, he said.

The budget also carries other charges that will affect household bills from 1 July 2026. Council adopted a Landfill Remediation Separate Charge of $99.52 per annum on all rateable land, continued a $6 annual rural fire brigade separate charge, and lifted the Environment and Coastal Management separate charge from $258.00 to $280.48 per property.

The Acting Mayor said the median general rate for category 1A residential properties would rise by about 5.47 per cent, while commercial and industrial properties would rise by around 6.5 per cent. Pensioner rebates remain at $335 for a full pensioner and $167.50 for a part-pensioner.

Council also adopted new rating categories for shopping centres and retirement and lifestyle villages from 1 July 2026. Updated rate notices will follow the budget adoption.

The same meeting adopted the 2026-27 budget, rates and charges, concessions and remissions for eligible pensioners, farming land, community organisations and concealed leaks, and the related financial statements that sit behind the levy funding.

The waste levy revenue is one part of that package, but it is the clearest sign of how the levy and broader budget changes will show up for Redland City ratepayers next financial year.