Bundaberg Regional Council says the Queensland Government waste levy will cost the region $1.3 million in the next financial year, and $4 million per year in future years, if no change is made to the state’s implementation plans.
Bundaberg Region Mayor, Helen Blackburn said she has already spoken directly with the Environment Minister, Andrew Powell, regarding the Council’s concerns about the waste levy and is calling for intervention.
“So far the waste levy has not impacted residents because the State Government has been covering the full cost of the levy for residential waste through advance payments to Council,” Mayor Blackburn said.
“From the 2025 financial year the State Government will start to phase those payments out.
“In year one this is a $1.3 million cost to local ratepayers which, to put that into perspective, is the equivalent financial impact to ratepayers of a 1.4% rates increase.
“By the time the levy reaches its full extent, this figure is expected to grow to $4 million per year.”
State Government waste levy impact on Bundaberg Region residents:
| State Government rebate | Cost to ratepayers | |
| 2024-25 | 100% | $0 |
| 2025-26 | 70% | $1.3 million |
| 2026-27 | 60% | $1.8 million |
| 2027-28 | 50% | $2.3 million |
| 2028-29 | 40% | $2.9 million |
| 2029-30 | 30% | $3.4 million |
| 2030-31 | 20% | $4 million |
Mayor Blackburn said that currently there was no commercially viable way for Council to achieve the state’s zero waste to landfill target, leaving no option but to pass the costs on to residents.
She is calling on the State Government to delay its plans for the implementation of the levy and continue to work with local Councils on the solution.
“We wholeheartedly agree that waste should be diverted from landfill wherever possible however we’d like to be working with our community to achieve this, not against them,” Mayor Blackburn said.
“Imposing millions of dollars of additional taxes on a community that is already struggling with the cost of living isn’t fair.
“We’re calling on the Queensland Government to reconsider its rollout timeline for the waste levy.”
