CHRC Budget Summary Brochure 2026-2027

Central Highlands Regional Council

Budget

Summary 2026-2027

At a glance

Rates increase 3.7% average increase in general rates for ratepayers

Utility charges same increase as last year for sewerage (6.0%) and waste (5.5%), while water increase reduced to 8.5%.

$239 M total budget spend including $73 M capital investment $ 4.7 M debt repayment

Vacant land sewerage and water charges have been reduced

Message from the Mayor

Considered and Progressing

This budget details how Central Highlands Regional Council plans to play our part in improving liveability across our vibrant and diverse region over the next financial year.

As the third budget of this current council term, I am pleased to be here alongside my fellow Councillors to adopt the Central Highlands Regional Council’s 2026-2027 Budget and Operational Plan.

Over the last two years, council has completed a rates review, is reviewing water and wastewater utilities, put a focus on efficiencies to get the basics right and paying down debt.

In setting this budget, council has considered the broader financial impacts on the cost of living and the costs to deliver council operations.

Costs have risen and continue to rise, for both our community and council. Council knows many in our region are doing it tough, and we take seriously our responsibility to get the balance right for delivering all the services needed to keep our region moving forward.

This year’s $239 million expenditure budget represents the total cost of council’s operating activities and capital works requiring funding in 2026–27. Operationally, we have deliberately committed over $5 million to deliver strategies and plans that will set a clear path forward for improved communications, customer experience, libraries, cemeteries and the visual amenity of our towns.

While striking a balance between meeting community expectations, planning for the future and being financially responsible, this year’s budget has equally considered our towns and rural communities, so that we can keep delivering for today and preparing for tomorrow.

Overall, the 2026-27 budget reflects a considered financial approach to progressing liveability across the Central Highlands now and into the future.

Our Approach to Setting Rates, Utility Charges, and Fees and Charges

In setting this year’s rates, utility charges and fees, council has carefully considered keeping increases as low as possible while continuing to deliver essential services and protecting council’s long-term financial position.

General Rates

General rates will increase on average by 3.70%, which translates to an increase in total general rates revenue of 3.62%. This represents a modest increase, lower than last year’s 3.90% and below current CPI inflation forecasts.

Last year, we listened to the community and reviewed our general rating system. This resulted in a rate in the dollar that better reflects land values and the general rates being paid. Most ratepayers have now transitioned off capping, and in 2026-27 just over 300 are expected to remain capped, which is down from 8,900 at the end of the 2024–25 financial year.

As part of the rating review transition, some categories have had minimum general rate increases above the overall rate rise, while some ratepayers will see a decrease in their general rates this year. The majority of ratepayers will see only moderate

changes, however those affected by large property revaluations or previous land use classification changes will have their increases eased through a cap of 24.44%.

As rate reforms are complex, council will continue the transition of the rating review changes into 2026-27.

Utility Charges

Overall, utility charges have been maintained in line with the full cost pricing paths developed by council in line with National Competition Policy.

In setting these charges, council must comply with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements, while balancing affordability and recognising that these services operate on a user-pays basis and should not be subsidised by general rates.

As a result, sewerage and waste charges will increase at the same rate as last year, being 6.00% and 5.50% respectively. Water charges will increase by 8.50% in 2026-27, which is lower than the 10.00% increase applied last year.

Council commenced a review of its utility charges in 2025-26 to ensure the charges for these services reflect the true cost of delivering high-quality services to the community, both now and into the future.

We will continue this review during 2026-27 but an important outcome for ratepayers to date is the reduction in charges for vacant land.

Water infrastructure charges for vacant land have been reduced to 50% of the full connected land charge in 2026-27, having previously been set at the same level as connected land.

Sewerage charges for vacant land have also been reduced. Previously these charges were set at the

same level as the first pedestal charge for residential and non-residential properties. In 2026-27, the vacant land charge will be reduced by 42% to align with the lower charge applied to additional nonresidential connections.

Fees and Charges

For fees and charges—such as licences, permits and hiring council facilities—you’ll see an average increase of 3.70%, which is below current CPI inflation forecasts. Council has kept this increase as modest as possible, while still recovering the cost of providing these services, rather than relying on general rates to subsidise them.

Regional Capital Works Program

In this budget, council will continue to deliver a robust capital program of $73 million, which includes $20 million in funding from our state and federal partners to benefit this region.

This year’s capital program includes upgrades to roads, water and sewerage systems, and improvements to community facilities and other infrastructure throughout the region.

Looking Forward

Council has budgeted an operating surplus of $7.2 million for 2026–27. This surplus will support the planned debt repayment of $4.7 million, while also providing capacity to respond to unexpected funding opportunities and maintaining a prudent approach to managing the rising cost of service delivery in the current economic environment.

Council remains focused on improving long-term financial sustainability and strengthening its capacity to manage future risks and uncertainty without reducing service levels. To support this, council’s strategy consists of clear benchmarks tailored to its specific risks and operating environment.

These benchmarks are in addition to the financial sustainability targets set by the Department of Local Government and focus on 3 core areas: Operating Capacity, Financial Flexibility, and Sound Asset Management Practices.

The 2026–27 budget is continuing to progress these benchmarks. Over the past two years, council has repaid more than $50 million in legacy debt to significantly strengthen its balance sheet and reduce ongoing financial commitments. This disciplined approach will continue in 2026–27, with total debt reducing below $15 million by the end of the year and leaving only two low-interest loan accounts on the balance sheet.

This achievement is not just about reducing debt— it’s about increasing council’s financial flexibility. By lowering interest costs and freeing up cash flow, we are better positioned to respond to unexpected events and invest in the services and infrastructure our region needs.

Conclusion

In 2026-27, council will continue to partner with state and federal governments; to listen, engage and work with our communities and businesses; to advocate for more regional investment and to improve the liveability and prosperity of the Central Highlands.

I would like to thank my fellow Councillors, Acting CEO Graeme Kanofski and all council staff for making this budget possible and preparing the Operational Plan.

As Mayor, I am pleased with the considered and progressive approach council has taken in shaping the 2026-2027 Budget, which I commend to you all.

What we look after

$2 billion in assets including:

4,605 km council road and bridge network

29,000 residents 13 communities

14,800 rateable properties 60,000 square kilometres

Delivery of 60 core services 430 staff

Long-term destination goals

This budget is guided by our seven long-term destination goals, as outlined in the Central Highlands Regional Council Corporate Plan 2022-2027. These goals respond to our opportunities and challenges and represent what we want to achieve and where we want to be in the future.

132 km of footpaths

15 water treatment plants

426 km of water mains

7 wastewater treatment plants

17 resource recovery facilities

191 parks and open spaces

10 library locations

7 aquatic centres

2 art galleries

17 cemeteries

7 customer service centres

1 airport and 5 rural landing strips

1 saleyard

1. Deliver, enable and advocate for reliable services for our community

2. Protect and grow a diverse and prosperous economy

3. Support and enhance resilient, safe, vibrant and inclusive communities

4. Drive our council and the region towards a digital future

5. Develop a future-focused workforce to support council and our region

6. Responsibly manage our natural environment

7. Prepare for a low carbon future and adapt to a changing climate

$239 M Total Expenditure Budget |

Operating Budget

$160 M operating budget, which includes: excluding depreciation expense of $57 million

$41.2 M Utilities to manage our utilities so that we can deliver reliable water, wastewater and waste services (excluding capital)

$34.5 M Roads to maintain our region’s 4,605 km road and bridge network (excluding capital)

$6.8 M Our Organisation for our council to attract, retain, train and develop staff, and ensure a safe workplace

$6.6 M Airport Operations to deliver modern state of the art airport facilities for the traveling public

$2.2 M Arts Culture and Libraries to deliver cultural events and workshops, art programs at our galleries, library services and heritage programs

$1.8 M Community Building to develop and support youth services, indigenous support, and community wellbeing including through grant programs, concessions, sponsorships and donations

$1.8 M Saleyards Operations to deliver an efficient saleyard facility for our graziers

Capital Works Budget

$73 M capital works budget, which includes renewals, upgrades and new assets:

M rural road network projects including floodways and drainages

projects including pathways and kerb and channel

Capping

Council continues to transition ratepayers off capping. This year a 24.4% cap applies for general rate increases which will result in around 300 ratepayers remaining on the cap. This compares with 8,900 ratepayers being on a cap in 2024-2025, and 1,316 last financial year.

Rates and utility charges

For the average residential ratepayer in 2026-2027 there will be:

general rates rise for an average residential ratepayer in Emerald (after discount) per week $1.02

average increase in combined residential utility charges (after discount) per week $4.38

For vacant land owners in 2026-27

„ Water infrastructure charges reduced to 50% of the full connected land charge

„ Sewerage charges reduced by 42%

Utility

charges

Council invests your utility charges directly back into your community to cover costs associated with water, wastewater, and waste management.

Council provides various options to help ratepayers meet their rating commitments: Financial assistance options

„ up to a 100% rebate on general rates for eligible not-for-profit organisations

„ deferred payment arrangements

„ suspension of interest when a ratepayer is in a deferred payment arrangement

„ periodic prepayment of rates and water charges

„ 50% concession to eligible pensioners on all residential rates and charges (except for water consumption and QLD State Fire Levy). This is in addition to the 20% state government pensioner rebate (capped at $200 per annum).

Capital budget by asset type

Another view

Total budget by destination goal

2026-2027 key projects

External funding

This year we have secured $19.9 M in external funding. Partnerships with other levels of government and outside organisations are crucial in keeping charges down, as well as ensuring the growth and sustainability of our region. We will continue to prioritise our advocacy efforts to attract our fair share of funding back to our region so we can keep enhancing and developing our towns and communities.

Resources Community

Fund The delivery of projects funded by the Queensland Government Resources Community Infrastructure Fund will continue in 2026-27.

Regional Botanic Gardens Redevelopment - Includes pedestrian bridge across Nogoa River

capital projects by town (*includes external funding)

2026-2027

key projects

Operational Plan project highlights

„ Improved community amenity plan - $1 M

„ Roads strategy - $1 M

„ Electrical compliance works - $500,000

„ Review Lochlees Landfill capacity and future infrastructure needs - $250,000

„ Business governance – Airport/Saleyards stage 3 – 250,000

„ Facility condition assessment - $200,000

„ Biosecurity weed management - $145,000

„ Regional entry signage - $150,000

„ Regional showgrounds land management plan - $150,000

„ Safety software uplift - $150,000

„ New asset management system - $130,000

„ Draft Local Government Infrastructure Plan amendment - $120,000

„ Springsure Hospital Museum options report - $120,000

„ Cemetery strategy - $100,000

„ Liveability survey of the Central Highlands community - $100,000

„ Water and wastewater supervisory control and data acquisition implementation - $100,000

„ Store management uplift - $100,000

„ Meeting agenda and minute management uplift - $100,000

„ Flying fox management - $75,000

„ Customer experience strategy - $70,000

„ Library services strategy 2027-2032 - $60,000

„ Creative cultural futures and heritage strategy - $60,000

„ Communications strategy - $50,000

„ Major planning scheme amendment - $35,000

„ Priority waste reduction and recycling initiatives - $30,000

„ Review council’s compliance functions and priorities - $30,000

For more information on this year’s budget please head to council’s website.

“While striking a balance between meeting community expectations, planning for the future and being financially responsible, this year’s budget has equally considered our towns and rural communities, so that we can keep delivering for today and preparing for tomorrow.”

chrc.qld.gov.au