Scenic Rim council receives August financial report as capital carry-forwards hit $99.43m

Scenic Rim Regional Council received its unaudited August 2026 financial report as councillors were told capital carry-forwards had reached as much as $99.43 million over the past three years.

The report records the council’s financial position, but detailed figures for income, expenditure, cash, debt and the budget were not included. The effect of August’s result therefore cannot be assessed from the available details.

Capital spending was raised during public question time by Nigel Waistell, who asked how often capital revenue had been carried forward because of underspending and requested a 10-year breakdown.

The Chief Executive Officer said carry-forwards were common in local government when approved projects extended across financial years. Reasons included weather events, contractor availability, supply-chain constraints, grant funding timelines, land acquisition, design and approval processes, and changes in project scope.

For the past three years, Scenic Rim’s capital carry-forwards ranged from $44.56 million to $99.43 million. They represented between 51 per cent and 57 per cent of the relevant year’s capital allocation.

The council said the figures reflected the timing of project delivery, with remaining budgets transferred to the following financial year to complete approved works. It said a carry-forward did not represent lost funds or additional expenditure.

The 10-year, year-by-year breakdown requested by Mr Waistell was not provided in the response. The council said carry-forward amounts were included in annual financial statements and that its capital program was reviewed each year through budget and financial reporting processes.

Councillors also received a June 2026 update on the 2025-26 Infrastructure Capital Works Program. The next council meeting is scheduled for 28 October 2026.