2025-2026 Budget and Operational Plan Adopted
Council 2025-2026 Budget
The Carpentaria Shire Council budget and operational plan for 2025-2026 was adopted at a special meeting of Council on Thursday 19 June.
As part of the budget process several policies were also reviewed including: Revenue Policy, Investment Policy, Debt Policy, Rates Based Financial Assistance for Community Organisations, Pensioner Rates Concession Policy, Concealed Water Leak Policy, Faulty Water Meter Policy, Debt Recovery Policy and Financial Hardship Policy. These will be available on the Council website in due course.
The Operational Plan for the 2025-2026 financial year identifies key initiatives that will be carried out during the financial year to achieve the Corporate Plan initiatives.
The operational budget is expected to be $3.75m surplus (excluding depreciation).
The Capital Budget contains projects with a value of $76.375m of which $69.107m is covered by grant funding.
As has been the case for the past few years Council continues to hold discussions with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to undertake works for and on their behalf, and will continue to receive funding through such programs as Works 4 Queensland (State Government) and the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
Capital projects are broken up as follows:
- Renewals $15.673 million
- Upgrades $54.107 million
- New $6.595 million.
Council’s and, more importantly the ratepayers’ contribution towards this investment is $6.789m, with the balance coming from grant funding and from trade-ins of assets being replaced. Most capital investment is in renewal of assets to increase the useful life of our assets and ensure they continue to service the needs of the community, rather than just adding new assets.
Council has continued its success in obtaining grant funds to reduce the impact and burden on ratepayers to deliver necessary infrastructure. Mayor Bawden said:
“Council will continue to use its best endeavours to access eligible funding for projects that benefit the community and its ratepayers.”
Mayor Bawden said during the development of the budget, Council was mindful of the current impacts that cost of living have had on the family household budget and challenges faced by commercial business and the flow-on effect this has for the community. The increase for the average household ratepayer will be $3.75 per week in Normanton and a $2.40 per week increase for Karumba Residents.”
Residential ratepayers will receive a general rate rise of around 4%, with no increase in excess water charges.
Details of the budget will be available on the Council website for download for members of the public.
Rate notices are planned to be issued in August 2025 and in February 2026.
Media Contact:
- Mayor Jack Bawden. Ph: 0427 459 424.
- CEO Anne Andrews. Ph: 0417 306 412.