The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has welcomed measures in the Queensland Budget to increase infrastructure funding for councils, while expressing concern about ongoing reductions to waste levy rebate payments that help offset costs for households.
The association welcomed the doubling of the Residential Activation Fund, describing it as a positive step towards supporting councils to deliver enabling infrastructure for new housing.
However, LGAQ said the Budget did not include a pause to planned reductions in annual waste levy payments to councils, with Budget papers forecasting an additional $569.7 million in waste levy revenue over the next four years.
LGAQ Chief Executive Officer, Alison Smith, said the changes would place additional cost pressures on households within the waste levy zone.
“The State Budget is putting more waste levy pressures on ratepayers while delivering a projected $569.7 million in additional revenue over four years,” Smith said.
“Millions of Queenslanders living within the levy zone will continue to face increasing waste levy costs through their rates.”
Smith said the association would continue advocating for changes to the waste levy arrangements and greater investment in resource recovery initiatives.
The LGAQ also expressed disappointment that funding for the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) remains capped at $76 million annually, saying councils are facing increasing road maintenance costs as construction prices continue to rise.
The association also renewed its call for a dedicated funding program to support upgrades to ageing water and wastewater infrastructure across Queensland.
Ahead of the Budget, the LGAQ called for TIDS funding to increase to $100 million per year, the reintroduction of a Water and Sewerage Infrastructure Program, continued support for key infrastructure initiatives, and investment in long-term resource recovery and housing programs.
Smith said councils remain heavily reliant on funding from other levels of government.
“Councils receive only three per cent of the nation’s overall tax revenue, making them heavily reliant on Federal and State governments to help fund essential community services,” she said.
She said councils were also facing significant investment pressures to maintain and upgrade critical infrastructure, particularly water and wastewater assets.
“Without additional investment, the gap between infrastructure needs and available funding will continue to widen,” Smith said.
The LGAQ also raised concerns about proposed changes to federal disaster recovery funding, saying councils continue to face growing financial pressures as they respond to increasing infrastructure and community service demands.
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