The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has welcomed a boost to betterment funding in today’s Queensland Budget as a much-needed initiative to support the State’s councils to build more resilient communities.
LGAQ President, Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett said betterment funding was proven to work, achieving substantial cost savings through more resilient infrastructure, and improving the lives of residents living in impacted communities.
“With 73 of Queensland’s 77 councils disaster declared this year, and 677,000 Queenslanders individually impacted, our state continues to maintain its reputation as the country’s most disaster-prone state,” Mayor Burnett said.
“But we are also the country’s most resilient and the State Government’s commitment to betterment will help ensure we can build back better and recover faster into the future.”
The Budget includes $450 million over five years for the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Program (QRRRP) to support high priority disaster resilience and mitigation projects, strengthening Queensland communities’ resilience to natural disasters.
It includes $120 million over three years from the Queensland Betterment Fund and $330 million over five years from DRFA Efficiencies, jointly funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments.
“The benefit of the Queensland Betterment Fund is that the funding is not tied to a specific weather event which will help it give councils the flexibility to future-proof infrastructure before it is damaged,” Mayor Burnett said.
LGAQ CEO, Alison Smith said the Association also welcomed the fulfilment of key election commitments made by the LNP in today’s State Budget.
“In this State Government’s first Budget, we welcome Premier David Crisafulli fulfilling his election commitments to a $2 billion trunk infrastructure fund with the inclusion of the Residential Activation Fund which will help councils across the state prepare land for housing by funding the pipes, footpaths, roads and other infrastructure needed,” she said.
“We also welcome the doubling of Round 1 of the Residential Activation Fund to $1 billion and the $31.316 million to deliver 13 new Regional Plans across Queensland over the next four years and the Works for Queensland program being made permanent.”
However, Ms Smith said councils were disappointed to see confirmation in the State Budget of a reduction in the advance waste levy payments to councils, which will reduce the levy offset to households.
“While there are many welcome announcements for local government in this State Budget, it has also confirmed that from July 1 millions of Queenslanders will be either pay the waste levy for the first time or have to pay even more for their rubbish collection,’ she said.
“Councils have said they do not think it is fair to levy households with what is a bin tax before real investment has been made into the industries and infrastructure that need to be in place in order to give Queenslanders options to reduce waste.”
A new Queensland Waste Strategy is currently out for review.
“Councils are calling for the levy costs to councils and to ratepayers to be paused until the strategy is reviewed and more realistic waste targets and infrastructure can be put in place,” Ms Smith said.
