If I had to describe the budget this year it could be titled the GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY.

The budget process was crammed into a very short timeframe – to its detriment; I believe Council could have done better.

To make things worse, I got COVID and missed some budget meetings. I didn’t get any help in advising me what was decided in the days I missed. After recovering, I felt I had contacted COVID again after suffering the same symptoms. Subsequent PCR tests however, were all negative for COVID and influenza (thank you vaccines). It turned out to be a sinus infection which quickly cleared up with a course of antibiotics, but I was ordered to isolate and missed the budget meeting.

So, let’s do a selected helicopter view of the budget within my word limit, as it affects you, and from my best recollection.

The GOOD
The increase in the flat Infrastructure charge will reduce the general rates, have the effect of smoothing downwards the impact of high valuations on Tamborine Mountain, and large rural blocks across the region, and very low valuations in the towns of Boonah and Beaudesert.

The budget announced the purchase of land for Gallery Walk parking and will solve the pump out costs of the Gallery Walk toilets. But there is a steep downside to this, which I put under the UGLY heading.

There is a $750,000 allocation for sport and recreation, but the details of how this will be used are still rather sketchy.

I like the increase in allocations for environmental grants, community grants and grants to our museums.

I like that a new DAP (Development Assessment Planning) online may solve its many shortcomings, but let’s wait and see how it works.

We are promised new IT solutions to allow customers to lodge customer requests online using Tech One, our enterprise system. This is long overdue.

Money has been provided to implement the new Open Council Committee meetings from January 2023.

The BAD
The rates are still extraordinarily too high on Tamborine Mountain, and the premium we pay is not matched in terms of a fair share of infrastructure, nor in the quality of that infrastructure when it is provided.

Just look at the two new toilet blocks in Staffsmith Park and Geissmann Oval. The unlined tin roofs, above ground tanks, a basic design with little pizzazz. It detracts from what is expected in areas surrounded by expensive homes, in the Top Tourism Town (category population greater than 5000) in Queensland. It’s great to get the projects, but SRRC should lift its game a long way in meeting the needs of our community and standard of infrastructure. Neither of the Tamborine Mountain Councillors were consulted on any aspect of these toilets’ design.

What also worries me is that the budget announcement for the value of Tamborine Mountain infrastructure has in the past often been hugely overstated. When it is built, the massive underspend is often transferred to other jobs somewhere else, but not on the Mountain. Why is that?

You also must look at the 2.5 metre footpaths and bicycle ways in Beaudesert compared to 1.5 metre ones recently constructed on Tamborine Mountain. We often get lectured on the need for one size fits all policies, but not when it comes to infrastructure for Beaudesert. Need I mention the proposed Beaudesert Library and Parkland, proposed to cost in excess of $20 million.

Drainage funds for Tamborine have been cut back and/or not provided, when we have so many drainage works that require attention.

Council long-term financial plans show its assets sustainability ratio declining, meaning our existing assets are not being maintained at the same rate they are deteriorating. As an example, unless Council does major work on the Judith Wright Boardwalk in Eagle Heights Road, that asset’s dilapidated condition means it could be lost, and the only way to restore it is to build a new one.

More effort must be given to reducing operating costs and administration initiatives instead of always increasing revenue to balance the budget.

The overspend in the SRRC adventure into Industrial land property development in Beaudesert has gone amiss with bad weather, cost overruns and now a falling property market and likely economic downturn. Ratepayers have contributed approximately $6 million plus to the development. The expected revenue from land sales is in doubt, and I have seen history repeat itself over the last 30 years, with losses from declining valuations in the Beaudesert Industrial Estate in the early stages.

I’ve asked Council for a report on all works in the budget pertaining to Tamborine Mountain and haven’t got an answer yet. It appears that no funds have been provided for the promised upgrade of the outside toilets next to the new Library, which is scheduled to be finished in five months’ time, although that appears unlikely at this time.

No funds have been set aside in this budget to implement the Gallery Walk Master Plan. The plan may end up like all the others and sit on a shelf and go out of date. It keeps some people happy for a short time and offers hope, but soon turns to disappointment. There is seemingly always money for a report, but none for implementation. It is likely that grant money from State and Federal Governments will become much scarcer, as deficits have to be reined in.

No funds have been set aside for a new Aquatic Centre; our pool is past its use-by date, and not fit for a population of 8,500. No funds have been set aside for the much-needed Long Road extension.

THE UGLY
If ever Council had said they had the $6 million dollars or so to spend on Tamborine Mountain, Gallery Walk parking, (as reported in the Fassifern Guardian newspaper last week), I’m sure that if asked, the Community might offer different suggestions on how that would better service the community, and other more cost-effective solutions to solving Gallery Walk parking and other issues.

Nonetheless, you can only take what the majority decides. I voted against it for many reasons, but mainly because purchasing the land at the top of market, with the intention of selling off the section with buildings fronting Gallery Walk for an estimated three million dollars, in a two-year time frame is fraught with risk and, already I believe, significant money has been lost, as valuations and economic activity are on a downward trajectory.

This was totally foreseeable when the land was purchased, in what I consider to be a panic purchase decision for the fear someone else might buy it instead. I believed none of this panic was necessary and just the portion needed could have been secured by compulsorily acquisition. This would have reduced the risk almost to zero.

There were other options which were of equal merit and if the compulsory acquisition proposal was followed, it would have left substantive funds to deliver a working carpark and/or even to purchase two rather than one suitable block. As far as I know, no designs or estimates of the construction costs have been considered by Council.

HOW can the “UGLY “be made “LESS UGLY”?
My future budget suggestion to Council is to relocate the Tamborine Mountain Information Centre to the newly purchased Gallery Walk land, utilising the beautiful old timber winery building built by Keith Smith for the pioneering Rosser Family when it first opened as the “Original Avocado” attraction.

The benefits are enormous, and completely complementary to Queensland’s Top Tourism Town in 2022. Rear parking for buses and cars, close to the public toilet, room to display and sell Scenic Rim produce, active displays of our artisans at work, and sale of locally made products. Visitation would likely triple from around 30,000/year on average in Doherty Park to 100,000/year in Gallery Walk. The Doherty Park centre is well past its use-by date. Council is soon to consider a consultant’s report on Information Centres that is likely to add considerable weight to this suggestion.
Food for thought.

There is much more to discuss but I’ve exceeded my word limit.

Derek Swanborough
Councillor. Division 1
derek.s@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
Ph 0436 351 567