Gympie Regional Council’s 2024-25 budget has turned council finances around from a deficit and $10 million dollar overdraft in 2020 to close to $0.85 million in surplus in 2024.
This is after cuts to federal assistance grants, flood damage and Covid impacts on Gympie’s economy during the past four years.
The budget, supported by a majority of councillors on Tuesday, includes a rates increase of 9.3 percent, or around $2.75 per week, though rural properties will only pay 5 percent.
Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig said the rate increases were necessary to budget for repairs to ageing critical infrastructure, including Gympie’s Water Treatment Plant at Jones Hill.
The Jones Hill Water Treatment Plant PHOTO: Bernie McKay
‘The water treatment plant was built in 1898 so it’s a bit long in the tooth. It could be heritage listed,’ Mayor Hartwig said.
‘Had it been rebuilt ten years ago, the cost would have been around $70 million. Now the cost will be around $150 million.
‘This budget focuses on things that are not sexy but essential if you want to drink water and flush your toilet.’
The original water treatment plant was built in the 1800s. PHOTO: Gympie Regional Council
Outdated IT replaced
Mayor Hartwig said council had been forced to replace its computers and IT system which were so old there was no longer IT support available.
‘In the last year we have worked hard to understand better what needs to be done to fix significant gaps in our water, facilities and other essential infrastructure,’ he said.
‘We are rebuilding the organisation, paying down debt, upgrading our fleet and incorporating proper asset management plans into our budget.’
‘You can’t build a house on sand and this council is about building solid foundations.’
Division 8 Councillor Gordon Maudsley said it was not an easy decision to increase rates in light of financial hardships many residents were facing.
‘However I believe the decision to support this budget will not only lift the quality of council services, it will result in greater efficiencies in future.’
Cr Maudsley: ‘greater efficiencies’. PHOTO Gympie Regional Council
View the full Gympie Regional Council 2024-2-25 Budget here
Foundations for future growth
In addition to the surplus budget, Gympie Council is finalising a new Economic Development Strategy which Mayor Hartwig says will support work already underway to grow Gympie’s economy.
‘I don’t believe in growth for growth’s sake. What we want to do is shape the Gympie region as a place people choose to live, not have to live.
‘Our topography, demography and the whole region is unique and we want to keep that uniqueness as we move forward.’
Mayor Hartwig said Gympie’s population was growing rapidly and part of the rationale of the Economic Development Strategy was to support industries that provided jobs in the region.
Focus areas for Gympie Council were events, attracting investment, developing industrial land, manufacturing, high-value food and agribusiness, forestry and forestry products, renewables, construction, transport and logistics, tourism, the arts and retail.
‘It’s time Gympie saw itself as part of the rest of the world,’ Mayor Hartwig said.
‘Council can’t afford a glossy marketing campaign.
‘Events are a way for the rest of Australia and the world to experience the warm welcome, the strong community fibre and the beautiful surrounds of Gympie.’
Mayor Hartwig said key events included the Australia Rally Championship (ARC) and Wheels on Mary in June, the Adventure X Skydiving Event in April and the Outrigger Championships in May (both at Rainbow Beach).
The Adventure X Skydiving Event at Rainbow Beach PHOTO: www.visitgympieregion.com.au
‘These events have growing national and international participation,’ said the Mayor.
‘Visitors, organisers and participants learn what it’s like to work with the local government and get to know the community and leave with a positive impression. It’s word of mouth,’ he said.
‘Council wants the rest of the world to come and see how wonderful it is here, how lovely the people are, the beautiful coast and the rolling hills out west.
‘I’d love to see a World Rally Championship event to bring the world to Gympie and transform the psyche of our region.
‘Council will be meeting with more people in the rally community and our state and federal counterparts to put a proposal together. We are creating momentum with Wheels or Mary and the ARC event and pushing for state and federal funding to make it happen.’
PHOTO Gympie Regional Council
Proposed Curra industrial estate
Mayor Hartwig said in addition to events, council was proposing a new 300-hectare industrial precinct and transport hub near the new interchange at Curra.
The new Interchange makes Curra a viable location for development. PHOTO: TMR
‘The land we found is well serviced by four lanes, could have access to a railway siding and is close enough to the Sunshine Coast and the airport to facilitate export markets,’ he said.
‘There needs to be state investment in water and sewerage infrastructure to service that facility. It could also service residential development in Curra and affordable housing opportunities.’
Forestry and value-adding to timber and forestry waste products are also a focus, with opportunities in resin extraction, pulping and palletisation for fuel, including aviation fuel.
While the Queensland Labor government plans to cease logging native trees in state forests by the end of 2024, Mayor Hartwig said a possible change of government in October could affect that plan.
‘You would hope there is some intelligence applied to state forests because it makes sense to sustainably harvest that resource,’ he said.
Gympie also aims to participate in the national move to renewable energy. If approved, the Borumba Pumped Hydro near Imbil will be the biggest project in Gympie’s history.
If approved, Borumba Pumped Hydro will be built at Lake Borumba. PHOTO: Vivienne Wynter
Mayor Hartwig acknowledged Gympie has been seen as a ‘dormitory town’ where many residents live while commuting to other cities to work.
‘Our focus in on drawing businesses to the region so rather than people travel up or down the highway they can come to Gympie and work here.’
‘There are businesses looking to move here including Sydney Tools and businesses supporting the construction industry.’
The Mayor said Development Applications had ‘levelled out since Covid but above what we saw pre-Covid’.
‘It’s mostly residential. We are seeing early interest in an over 50s retirement village which would be fantastic for Gympie.’
Mayor Hartwig said council had come a long way in four years.
‘It is a critical time in Gympie’s history and it’s exciting watching Gympie come of age.’
Gympie’s statistics
- Population 56,166
- Median age 48
- Median weekly income $554.00
- Largest industry: health care and social assistance
- Gross Regional Product $2.83 billion
SOURCE: economy.id.com.au/gympie and https://www.abs.gov.au
Photo of Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig with budget document at top of story: IMAGE: Vivienne Wynter
