Council hands down delayed budget as $20m hole casts long shadow

Mayor Rosana Natoli: “Council has already saved $8.9 million by pausing recruitment and managing vacancies – a measure that will continue”.

Sunshine Coast Council has adopted its 2025–26 Budget, following a two-week delay prompted by a $20 million accounting error that led to what Mayor Rosanna Natoli described as a “full financial reset”.

Handed down on Monday, July 7, the budget includes $262.3 million in infrastructure spending, with a focus on safer roads, parks upkeep, libraries, waste upgrades and community facilities.

Rates will rise almost seven percent. The minimum general rate will rise by $2.10 per week to $1,586.30 per annum, representing a 7% rate rise. Residential bin collection fees will also increase by $2.35 per week.

“We know many in our community are doing it tough,” Mayor Natoli said. “That’s why we’re doing everything to minimise the impact on households, while still delivering the services and infrastructure that will benefit our community.”

We’re not sugarcoating it

The budget follows an internal audit that uncovered miscalculations in the depreciation of assets over five years — an error that contributed to a $20 million shortfall and a two-week delay in adopting the budget.

“We’re not sugarcoating it – this is difficult,” the Mayor said. “But we are doing what’s right and we have a plan. We have worked to reduce the minimum general rate rise, we’ve increased pensioner concessions and we are offering interest-free payment plans to ease cost-of-living pressures.”

Council has frozen the Environment Levy ($82 per annum) and the Arts and Heritage Levy ($20 per annum) and reduced the Transport Levy by $3.08.

Council has launched a full financial reset, starting with a priority-based budgeting approach for 2026–27 that requires every dollar to be justified. “Council has already saved $8.9 million by pausing recruitment and managing vacancies – a measure that will continue.

“A further $5.5 million in productivity improvements is being delivered through service reviews, with $7.5 million in savings from vacancy management.

“We’ve reviewed every spending bid and asked all areas to look for efficiencies.

“No frontline services will be cut and we’re holding the CEO and the new executive responsible for delivering these savings.”

Div 5 highlights

In Division 5, which includes Maleny, Palmwoods, Woombye and surrounding areas, capital works highlights include:

• $2.975 million for Maple Street streetscape, Maleny

• $855,000 for the Maleny District Recreation Park

• $830,000 for change rooms at Briggs Park, Palmwoods

• $800,000 for a new pathway on Eudlo School Road

• $500,000 for detailed design of the Sunshine Coast Ecological Park, Bald Knob

Other projects include park upgrades in Conondale, Palmwoods and Mooloolah, and amenity renewals in Montville and Tanawha.

Div 10 highlights

In Division 10, which covers Nambour, Yandina, Eumundi, Mapleton and Kenilworth, capital works include:

• $4.5 million for North Arm Road gravel road upgrade

• $2.2 million for the Seib Road pedestrian bridge, Eumundi

• $1.05 million for Namba Place revitalisation, Nambour

• $950,000 for Eumundi Town Centre placemaking

• $920,000 for the Quota Park fishway, Nambour

Funding has also been allocated for park renewals in Kenilworth, Mapleton and Coes Creek, amenity upgrades at the Nambour Showgrounds, and a $230,000 carpark project in Yandina.