What does the council budget mean for the Coast?

This information is summarised from Mayor Mick Curran’s budget report.

Progressing our region and making it the natural choice to live, work and play requires a commitment to projects and activities that connect residents, business and visitors to the benefits of the region.

This budget is based on:

• Increasing the rates early payment discount to 10% in the second rates notice issue
• Keeping general rates rises to a minimum
• Delivering projects that will make the Gympie region the natural choice to live, work and play; and
• Streamlining internal processes to increase efficiencies with no decrease in services

Infrastructure and initiatives:

• $1.1 million allocated to upgrading Bayside Road at Tin Can Bay / Cooloola Cove
• $300,000 is programmed for footpath renewals and upgrades at Tin Can Bay, Rainbow Beach, Southside, Gympie and Woolooga
• $1, 000 000 is allocated as an ongoing capital expense for sewer main relining in both Gympie and the Cooloola Coast

• $425,000 is allocated as part of a two-year programme of improving facilities at Lawrie Hanson Park, Rainbow Beach
• An additional $70, 000 is allocated to existing funds to construct new beach access/stairs to the beach from the southern point of Phil Rogers Park at Rainbow Beach
• Improvements to the Tin Can Bay Foreshore
• $40,000 has been allocated to the purchase of play equipment at Centenary of Federation Park, Cooloola Cove

• $520,000 is allocated to the streetscape improvements as part of the Our Towns project implementation in Tin Can Bay, Cooloola Cove and Goomeri

• Strengthening focus on regional event support and promotion

Tourism

Currently there are over 500 tourism businesses within the Gympie Regional Council boundary generating approximately $140 million in direct economic benefit.

The Gympie region is making the transition from an emerging destination to a new tourism region for the drive market from Brisbane and interstate, and has been a key partner in an international campaign that has seen an increase in international visitation by 12%.

Campaigns and events funded in this budget allocation of nearly $380,000 include Australia’s Nature Coast international campaign, state, national and international tourism industry and media, famils and also national and state promotion of our food trail and events.