‘Lost sleep’: Cr Johnston disappointed by deferral of hinterland priorities

By Cameron Outridge

Division 5 Councillor Winston Johnston has voiced disappointment over the lack of investment in the hinterland areas in the 2025-26 Sunshine Coast Council budget, warning that the deferral and cuts to rural projects have left many communities feeling overlooked.

Speaking during Council’s budget meeting this month, Cr Johnston said he had “lost quite a bit of sleep” over the decisions in the lead-up to the vote and described the extended delay to the budget’s adoption as a sign of how difficult it had been.

“We’ve considered and reconsidered this budget for some time,” he said. “The fact that we had to defer it for two and a half weeks is indicative of just how difficult a decision this has been.”

Cr Johnston said many capital projects in hinterland divisions had been either delayed or dropped entirely while ratepayers have had to stump up an extra 7.4 percent in the latest rate rise.

“We’ve worked very hard over the last five years to get an increase in sealing of gravel roads from $4.5 million to $8 million, and this year it’s been cut back to $4.5 million. It hasn’t just been deferred — it’s been cut.”

He backed Division 10 Councillor David Law’s concerns over the deferral of the long-awaited Nambour Library and community hub, saying: “The people of Nambour and the close hinterland area will be very disappointed.”

Cr Johnston said hinterland ratepayers often raised concerns about being left behind.

“They feel they don’t get the projects,” he said. “That’s not always the case, but the reality is that although we have one-tenth of the division each in population, as far as rate revenue is concerned, we don’t get anywhere near that.”

Despite his frustrations, Cr Johnston acknowledged positives in the budget, including the long-awaited streetscaping of Maleny.  “We’ve done a Eudlo, Palmwoods and Woombye so far. So the next one is on the list is Maleny, and it’s quite a significant project because it’s a big street.”

“I think we’ve bitten the bullet, ripped the bandaid off, tried to deal with it this year — and now we are in a position where we can move forward and deliver sensible budgets,” he said.  

Cr Johnston: “The people of Nambour and the close hinterland area will be very disappointed.”