governance · Scenic Rim Regional Council
Scenic Rim paid $75,738 to CoMSEQ in 2025-26
The contribution included a $36,978 membership levy and $38,760 for the Resilient Rivers program, while the council cited more than $15 million in direct funding benefits.
Scenic Rim Regional Council paid $75,738 to the Council of Mayors South East Queensland in 2025-26, including a $36,978 membership levy and a $38,760 contribution to the SEQ City Deal Resilient Rivers SEQ Program.
The figures were provided in response to questions about Scenic Rim’s participation in CoMSEQ, a company limited by shares established in 2005 by South East Queensland councils. Each member council holds one share, and the mayors form the organisation’s board.
Scenic Rim said its contributions averaged $77,282 a year over the nine financial years from 2015-16 to 2024-25. It did not provide a cumulative total for all payments since the council joined CoMSEQ.
CoMSEQ’s 2024-25 annual report recorded retained earnings of about $12 million and a surplus of $4.8 million. The council said those funds were being held for existing contractual obligations and approved regional initiatives, with surplus funds reinvested rather than returned to member councils.
Scenic Rim was reported to have benefited directly from more than $15 million in funding facilitated through CoMSEQ in recent years. The listed projects included $5.85 million for Resilient Rivers projects, $6.7 million for the Upper Warrill Creek Rehabilitation Project, $430,000 through the SEQ City Deal Public Art Initiative and $2.76 million from the SEQ City Deal Liveability Fund.
Other cited benefits included a $5 million business case for the Bromelton State Development Area, access to about $150 million in strategic SEQ City Deal funds, and regional advocacy on infrastructure, planning, waste, environmental resilience and Brisbane 2032 opportunities.
The council said CoMSEQ could not financially bind Scenic Rim beyond the annual member levy unless its board determined an additional contribution by special resolution. Any implementation or financial commitment by Scenic Rim remains subject to the council’s own governance and statutory processes. Mayor Tom Sharp is the council’s nominated CoMSEQ director.
Reference minutes
Scenic Rim Regional Council, Ordinary meeting of 26 August 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Scenic Rim’s 2025-26 CoMSEQ contribution was $75,738.
- The contribution included a $36,978 membership levy and $38,760 for the SEQ City Deal Resilient Rivers SEQ Program.
- Contributions averaged $77,282 a year from 2015-16 to 2024-25.
- CoMSEQ reported retained earnings of about $12 million and a 2024-25 surplus of $4.8 million, which it said were committed to contractual obligations and regional initiatives.
- Scenic Rim was reported to have received more than $15 million in direct funding facilitated through CoMSEQ in recent years.
- An additional CoMSEQ contribution could not financially bind Scenic Rim beyond the annual levy unless approved by board special resolution.
Why it matters
- The figures show what Scenic Rim pays for regional representation and projects, while the council’s stated governance arrangements limit additional financial commitments beyond the annual member levy.