The Orion Report
The Cassowary Coast Regional Council, formed in March 2008, faces a number of critical challenges in the years ahead.
A massive capital works program must be completed to upgrade essential services, such as water, sewerage and bridge works, in order to meet the needs of residents and address the demands of new State Government policies.
The recently released Orion Report was commissioned by the Local Transition Committee to assist in reviewing the financial sustainability of the Cassowary Coast Regional Council, including its ability to fund a capital works program of this size.
The report found that while the new council has adopted sound financial management practices, it still faces serious financial challenges and will not be able to complete a major capital works program with substantial financial assistance.
The challenges facing the regional council include dealing with the unwelcome legacy of past financial mismanagement by the Johnstone Shire Council, as well as coping with expenditure required to meet demands associated with new statewide Queensland Government policies – demands that fall heavier on this region, due to geographical factors such as high rainfall.
The Cassowary Coast Regional Council is keen to tackle these challenges and meet all the infrastructure requirements necessary to ensure this region can move forward with confidence, both economically and socially.
But in order to achieve these crucial goals, the council will need greater support from both rate payers and the Queensland Government, according to the Orion Report.
Residents must be prepared to shoulder higher rates, while the Queensland Government needs to consider, as a matter of urgency, increasing water and sewerage infrastructure subsidies to the council, under its capital works subsidy schemes.
The Orion Report also recommends that the Queensland Government assume funding or ownership responsibility for the replacement of Innisfail’s Jubilee Bridge and upgrade of the town’s Geraldton Bridge.
The Cassowary Coast Regional Council has publicly released the Orion Report, in order to keep residents fully informed of the council’s financial position. The Queensland Government is currently considering the Report.