Mayor Helen Blackburn
Bundaberg Regional Council has announced a significant turnaround in its financial position in a 2025-2026 budget which focusses on delivering essentials.
Mayor Helen Blackburn said, after facing millions of dollars in operational deficits over at least the next eight years, significant work had been undertaken to restore Council’s financial sustainability and improve its long-term financial forecast.
“Not only have we made millions of dollars in operational efficiencies to get our budget back in the black this year, the work we’re doing has returned this Council – and by extension this community – to financial security over the next 10 years,” Mayor Blackburn said.
“Importantly we haven’t just looked to rates to make this significant change, we looked inwards before we looked outwards.
“Our capital budget has been stripped back to focus on delivering essentials because roads, rates, rubbish and water are what we’re primarily here to do.
“The organisation has been through a restructure, operational efficiencies have been found.
“We then undertook a rating review with a focus on what’s fair and equitable, resulting in changes to the way income-generating properties are rated compared to residential homes.
“This was to recognise that the homeowners of our region have been doing the heavy lifting for many years and as a result we’ve worked to minimise the impact on rates for owner occupied homes.”
The 2025 – 2026 budget at a glance:
- Bundaberg Regional Council has adopted a $338 million budget including a $251.3 million operational budget and $86.7 million capital budget.
- A just over $8 million surplus is projected despite the original forecast indicating a $16.7 million operating deficit.
- The 10-year forecast has significantly improved however it also indicates more work will need to be done as, at the current forecasts, Council would not return to a surplus that would be sufficient to maintain its asset maintenance costs until 2031.
“Operating a Council without a sufficient surplus is akin to a household living pay cheque to pay cheque,” Mayor Blackburn explained.
“We may be able to get by, but it would limit our capacity to react to unexpected costs, proactively invest in infrastructure that would respond to the needs of our growing community or even pay the maintenance fees to look after the assets we already have.
“By building our financial strength we are less reliant on borrowings and short-term fixes.”
Mayor Blackburn said in the theme of delivering essentials this year’s projects and expenditure were focussed on works that were legislatively required, maintained service levels and safety standards or were grant funded.
“A major highlight of this year’s budget is plans to improve and revitalise our CBD and public spaces through a range of short and long term initiatives that will encourage more welcoming spaces and entice people to spend more time in the CBD.
“Our vision is to create a vibrant, connected and liveable community and a refresh of the Bundaberg CBD is one of the key ways we’ll be delivering on this.
“These plans include addressing challenges with homelessness, enhancing CBD infrastructure and encouraging outdoor dining.
“In line with these plans we’ve sliced outdoor dining fees by more than 70%, which will take effect in the 2026 renewal period and make it more affordable for our local operators to expand their seating into public spaces.
“We will engage with businesses and building owners over the coming months as we further develop this plan to achieve our aspirations for the CBD environment.”
Mayor Blackburn said other major highlights of the 2025-2026 budget included the finalisation of the new Anzac Park, the opening of the Bundaberg Aquatic Centre and stage three of the Washpool Creek naturalisation.
Find out more about the 2025-26 budget here: Budget | Bundaberg Regional Council
So you are delivering on the CBD rework that Mal Forman & Jack Dempsey failed to get done?
Now that unemployment is down & we are seeing fantastic growth in many fields with further opportunity maybe it’s time Council down sized abit. I’m not suggesting sacking anyone immediately but a reduction in council workers through natural attrition how ever sounds like a fantastic idea. So that in time a higher percentage of our workforce is reliant on the improved private sector & public sector from state/federal governments. Health care in particular is growing rapidly.
That does put our average rates almost exactly the same as HerveyBay. After there smaller increase of only 3.5% announced last week. Employment rate is still better in Bundaberg may as well stay here.