Our Budget

Budget 2026-27

We have adopted our 2026-27 Budget - an economically responsible and community-focused $196.8 million financial plan that prioritises investment in the region’s flood resilience, infrastructure, and town centres without unduly burdening ratepayers at a time of rising costs.

Highlights in the 2026-27 Budget include:

$80.66 million for capital works to mitigate flood risks; renew roads, footpaths and bridges; and renew water infrastructure for the benefit of the whole community.
$116 million for core operations and services including but not limited to swimming pools, libraries, stinger nets, emergency management, community grants, economic development, environmental initiatives, maintaining buildings and open spaces, and cemeteries.
We are retaining the discount for ratepayers who pay their rates on time.
We have kept the general rates rise within inflation, with owner-occupied general rates to increase by five per cent.
We have kept increases to water and waste charges to recover costs only.
We are providing two free waste vouchers per year – one voucher in each rates notice – to support residents to prepare for the wet season and to help with clean-ups.

On this page, you will find information about major projects; a breakdown of budget expenditure; and information about residential general rates, residential water rates, and other residential charges and levies.

Mayor's 2026-27 Budget speech

View and download a copy of the Mayor's 2026-27 Budget speech(PDF, 475KB).

Budget media releases

Budget documents

View and download the Budget 2026-27(PDF, 21MB).

Attachments:

Operational Plan

View and download the 2026-27 Operational Plan(PDF, 13MB).

View and download the updated Corporate Plan 2025-2030(PDF, 16MB).

Capital projects

View and download the full list of capital projects approved as part of the 2026-27 Budget(PDF, 80KB).

The data in this list is subject to review and change throughout the course of the financial year.

Understanding your rates

We will spend $80.66 million in the 2026-27 Budget on capital projects and $116 million on core operations.

Where the money comes from

Rates and charges: $90.2 million
Revenue and reserves: $9.7 million
Operating grants: $11 million
Capital income including grants: $18.9 million
Capital grants (DRFA): $19.8 million
Fees and charges: $5.5 million
Loans: $0
Interest received: $4.2 million
Sales of assets: $0

Total = $159.3 million

Where the money goes

Road, bridges, drainage, footpaths and bikeways: $57.9 million
Roads and drainage (DFRA): $20.2 million
Drainage: $5.9 million
Open spaces: $9.4 million
Marine facilities: $2.6 million
Facilities: $15.0 million
Water: $24.7 million
Wastewater: $17.7 million
Waste and resource recovery: $15.5 million
Development and environment: $6.3 million
Libraries and museums: $2.8 million
Community and engagement: $2.8 million
Business, strategy and operations: $16.0 million

Total = $196.8 million

Summary for residential rates and charges

The average general rates increase across the whole region is 6.14 per cent. Individual properties will vary depending on land valuation changes and general rate category changes.

Residential general rates

The average residential property increase across the whole region for general rates is five per cent.

Vacant land of 2,000m2 or less has an average increase of five per cent.

Investment properties have an average increase of 10 per cent in general rates across the region.

The average is based on the unimproved residential land value. However, the impact on individual properties will vary depending on land valuation changes and general rate category changes.

Water charges

Water Access Charge

The Water Access Charge is a fixed charge for the infrastructure that supplies or is able to be supplied to a person who is liable to pay the charge.

In 2026-27, the charge for 20mm and 25mm connections has increased by 10 per cent. The charge for all other connection sizes has increased by five per cent.

Water consumption

Water consumption charges will be tiered to promote water conservation and to reflect the additional demands placed on the water infrastructure by higher water consumption.

Water consumption charges	2025-26	2026-27	Variance $	Variance %
Water consumption (under 300kL)	$1.25 (for under 350kL)	$1.44	$0.19	15%
Water consumption (over 300kL)	$2.35 (for over 350kL)	$2.94	$0.59	25%
Based on average water consumption of 164kL	$205.13	$236.16	$31.03	15%

Other charges and levies

Sewerage utility charges

Sewerage utility charges are levied on land located within the following schemes:

Port Hinchinbrook Residential.
Innisfail Residential.
Tully and Mission Beach Residential.

For properties within the Port Hinchinbrook Residential wastewater service area, the wastewater charge in 2025-26 was $2,462. In 2026-27, this has changed to $2,603. This equals a dollar increase of $141 and a percentage increase of 5.7 per cent.

For properties within the Innisfail Residential wastewater service area, the wastewater charge in 2025-26 was $1,165. In 2026-27, this has changed to $1,232. This equals a dollar increase of $67 and a percentage increase of 5.7 per cent.

For properties within the Mission Beach and Tully Residential wastewater service area, the wastewater charge in 2025-26 was $1,095. In 2026-27, this has changed to $1,158. This equals a dollar increase of $63 and a percentage increase of 5.7 per cent.

Kerbside Charge

For dwellings within a waste collection area for both residential and non-residential (A charge), the waste collection service charge for a 140L general waste bin and a 240L recycling bin in 2025-26 was $467.

In 2026-27, this charge has been replaced by the Waste Utility Charge.

Waste Infrastructure Utility Charge

In 2025-26, this utility charge was $195.

In 2026-27, this charge has been replaced by the Waste Utility Charge.

Waste Utility Charge

The Waste Utility Charge recovers the cost of constructing, maintaining and operating landfills, and providing refuse services.

The Waste Utility Charge replaces the previously charged Kerbside Charge and Waste Infrastructure Utility Charge.

In 2026-27, this charge will be $699, which is a five per cent increase on the combined two previous charges.

Transport levy

We will levy a separate charge on all rateable land in the region for the purpose of funding a contribution of the total cost of management and maintaining assets included within Council’s transport network.

In 2025-26, this charge was $184. In 2026-27, this has changed to $193. This equals a dollar increase of $9 or five per cent.