funding ยท Toowoomba Regional Council
Toowoomba backs 2026-27 council fees and charges from 1 July
A new Toowoomba Regional Council fees register, including a separate cost recovery schedule requested by the Queensland Ombudsman, has been recommended and later adopted for the 2026-27 financial year.
Toowoomba Regional Council has approved its 2026-27 fees and charges registers, setting up a new schedule of council fees to apply across the region from 1 July 2026.
The Corporate Services Committee recommended adoption of the 2026-27 Register of Fees and Charges and the 2026-27 Register of Cost Recovery Fees and Charges at its 14 April meeting. That recommendation was then adopted at council's ordinary meeting on 21 April 2026.
The report said the registers cover fees and charges for the whole council area and form part of the annual budget process. It said fees and charges are a significant revenue source supporting council services and activities under its corporate and operational plans.
For residents, businesses and applicants, the change affects what may be charged for a wide range of council services, permits and facilities from the new financial year. Topics listed in the register include animal approvals, dog registration, impounding charges, regulated parking, planning and development applications, waste services, aerodrome-related charges and bus station parking.
The committee report also said a separate Register of Cost Recovery Fees and Charges was provided at the request of the Queensland Ombudsman, extracted from the broader fees register. Council said this separate register would sit alongside the main fees schedule.
The minutes show some adjustments were made after a councillor information session on 3 March 2026. In the Environmental and Regulatory Services branch, fees were updated to increase by 5.2 per cent over the prior year comparatives in line with Brisbane CPI for December 2025, although dog registrations for desexed animals were not increased. An added note also allows half-year registrations for newly registered dogs where the animal is registered for less than six months.
The adopted registers take effect from 1 July 2026 and remain in force until a later council resolution changes a fee or charge. The report said current year forecast revenue from fees and charges is about $67.8 million, compared with an original budget of $56.2 million.
Reference minutes
Source: Toowoomba Regional Council Corporate Services Committee minutes, 14 April 2026, and the council decision recorded for the ordinary meeting of 21 April 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The Corporate Services Committee recommended adoption of the 2026-27 Register of Fees and Charges on 14 April 2026.
- The committee also recommended adoption of the 2026-27 Register of Cost Recovery Fees and Charges.
- Council adopted the committee recommendation at its ordinary meeting on 21 April 2026.
- The registers have an effective date of 1 July 2026 and remain in effect until changed by a later council resolution.
- The report says fees and charges are a significant revenue source for council services and activities.
- A separate cost recovery register was provided at the request of the Queensland Ombudsman.
- The report says Environmental and Regulatory Services fees were updated by 5.2 per cent over prior year comparatives, except dog registrations for desexed animals, which did not increase.
Why it matters
- The registers set the charges residents, businesses and applicants may pay for many council services and facilities across the Toowoomba Region from 1 July 2026.