HomeCouncilCouncil adopts 2023/24 Annual Report

Council adopts 2023/24 Annual Report

Bundaberg Regional Council office
The report details Council’s financial performance and outlines achievements across the region, all while navigating the challenges of an evolving economic landscape.

Bundaberg Regional Council has adopted its 2023/24 Annual Report, highlighting a year marked by adaptation and a commitment to delivering essential services.

The report details Council’s financial performance and outlines achievements across the region, all while navigating the challenges of an evolving economic landscape.

CEO Rob Williams, who joined the organisation in August, expressed optimism for the future and said there was a renewed focus on refining Council’s role and delivery of services.

“I am pleased to be joining the organisation as we enter a phase of refocussing both what we do as a council and how we do it,” Mr Williams said.

Key financial data from the report include a $14.8 million operational deficit, with cash holdings at the close of the financial year totalling $164 million, down from $203.5 million.

During the year, Council provided $4.3 million in rate concessions to support ratepayers and allocated $840,000 in grants to community organisations.

Reflecting on 2023/24 achievements, Mr Williams commended the Council’s adaptability and forward-thinking approach.

“Adaptation and responsiveness were the hallmarks of a successful year for Bundaberg Regional Council,” he said.

“Efforts to plan a vibrant and sustainable future for the Bundaberg Region were recognised with accolades in planning excellence for turtle protection and innovative infrastructure planning for Bargara’s fast-growing community.

“Infrastructure and public space improvements were a major focus, with enhancements including more shade and fencing at play areas, the addition of new dog parks, road safety upgrades, erosion prevention projects, and significant progress on the Bundaberg Aquatic Centre.

“Advocacy efforts also remained strong throughout the year, with Council endeavouring to respond to the needs of its community through various initiatives.

“This year, we continued to support local, from the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal to donations for emergency services,” Mr Williams said.

“We have also adopted the Bundaberg Local Housing Action Plan and reinforced our commitment to engaging and empowering residents through community development.”

Council’s budget, adopted just prior to the end of the financial year, set a course toward fiscal responsibility with a focus on reducing its operational deficit.

“The Long-Term Financial Plan outlines the need for courageous decisions from both Council and the community to address forecast deficits over the coming decade,” Mr Williams said.

“This effort will require ongoing re-evaluation of our work to ensure alignment with our financial goals.”

Throughout these changes, Mr Williams reinforced that Council’s commitment to the community remained unwavering.

“Our focus has been and will continue to be acting in the best interests of our residents and ratepayers.”

The 2023/24 Annual Report can be viewed in full here.

10 COMMENTS

10 COMMENTS

  1. Economic mismanagement sacking staff & selling off assets while having $164 million. No government should ever have significant cash reserves. A well spent but manageable debt is indication of smart investment in growth, development & jobs. This is why the State & Federal governments have sizeable debts in the first place & why the people complain not to sell there assets or sack staff to accept that having a manageable debt is good investment practice to accelerate growth of our economy.

    Indication you should not be cutting projects that you should be spending to accelerate growth & recovery of the region. You have +$164 million when you should have a debt. Get the CBD rework done save our shops. Get building accommodation to handle our growth.

  2. You can forget the use of the road sweeper in Belle Eden Estate it came around a few weeks ago not picking up a grain of dirt. and am not sure if it had brushes on. What a waste of rate payers money and ditto for the edger.

  3. We voted in a new mayor but much the same as last… still illegal dumping in National Park around Woodgate. Poor BCC dump hours. No real updates on the beach erosion progress.

  4. i just wonder ,mayor helen promised tax cut,….but even though land price high,… my council levy became high…. n in burnett rd near moose dental, neighbor centre intersection blocked by concrete.. cant pass cant enter house. when u gonna remove ?pls

    thank u for other things free movies.. sport vouchers..council exercise … program except yoga hindu things

  5. I agree completely with what Lane Hancock has stated. Some of this money should be used in sealing suburban roads from side to side. I live in Svensson Heights and the roads are disgusting, full of dust entering the house, trucks and empty buses going through the street live on, roaring motorcycles and cars breaking the 50k speed limits. This council so far has proven a disgrace and if I couple possibly afford it I would move out of Bundaberg.

  6. Agree we need spending on projexts for Bunda erg not cutting projects that we all would have utilised. The spin of saying we cant afford is a joke and we need strong investment in future projects othrrwise we will go backwards…we need a future vision for Bunds erg. This new council has already cost jobs for locals and deprived us of great future projects we all wanted. Now will cost a lot more to do in tbe future..tbe loss of riverfront project was wrong and the disaster management centre also wrong. No grants should be sent back we can afford them…and selling ofc our assets again wrong thi g to do.

  7. Well said Lane Hancock. I think our new Mayor is trying to follow Campbell Neumann’s cost cutting philosophy and look how long he lasted. It’s a great disappointment that one of the first casualties of cost cutting is the Gin Gin Rail Trail. Incidentally, the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail was one of the first projects abandoned by the Neumann state government. Thankfully a change of government has turned it into one of the most successful rail trails in Australia.

  8. Come on people. Don’t you get it yet? Year 1 = cost cutting and cop the vitriol. Year 2 = rationalisation and planning to placate vitriol and criticism. Year 3 = begin spending program because the election is on the horizon. Year 4 = spend like there is no tomorrow and say “wow! Look at us”. By all means, voice your opinion, but, let’s give this council a go, and see where we end up, because like it or not, it’s a democracy and the majority voted them in, so we only have the majority to blame. Or am I old and cynical? By the way, SOS Save Our Structures. We need a huge effort to save our remaining heritage buildings ( commercial and domestic) and refurbish the ones hidden by outlandish placarding in the city centre. Like him or not, I will always think and thank Jack Dempsey for the Wintergarden refurbishment.

  9. It’s likely Jack Dempsey raised that $164 million from the state government. He was a former state member it may have given him an advantage in raising funds for projects. There was almost no rate rises under both Jack Dempsey & Mal Forman so it’s unlikely from us rate payers.

    The problem with canceling projects to offset ongoing operational costs is next year you have to raise rates again anyway or cancel something else but perhaps there’s a silver lining.

    I’d suggest with knowledge that interest rate cuts are coming next year, that we are in a extremely strong position in the workforce & that our region is preforming at record GDP already that the perfect time to raise rates more would be from next year & that leaves $164 million to spend on projects possibly more with sensible borrowing & further investment from the state government.

    It looks like Helen has been left a gold mine. If she dose it right she can have it all. What about Gin Gin rail trail? Can’t they just defer it for a while it could be done in 2026-2027?

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