Source : the age
Brisbane City Council has made a pitch for billions in state and federal funding to repair the ageing Story Bridge as it hikes rates for residents.
The average owner-occupier will pay about $1.22 more a week – or about $60 a year – under the 3.97 per cent rate increase.
But the average rate hike for owner-occupiers is below inflation, and leaves rates lower than in other south-east Queensland local government areas.
Handing down the budget on Wednesday, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner called for an 80-10-10 funding split with the state and federal governments to fix the bridge.
The 20-year renewal program is expected to cost $3.6 billion – equivalent to the cost of the new Olympic Stadium proposed for Victoria Park.
“I’m really confident we will get state and federal support for this,” Schrinner said.
“They will put in funding. I am very confident of that, I am very confident that the state and federal government will come to the table.
“What we are asking for is not unreasonable.”
A 21-page Story Bridge Renewal Progress Update was also released, which said a business case for the full project was 80 per cent completed.
The council budget has a projected operating surplus of $196 million, with a reduction in net debt. The local government will not borrow any additional money over the next year.
“These are not ordinary times,” Schrinner told the council chamber on Wednesday as he handed down the 2026-27 budget.
No large new projects were announced, with the focus on the Story Bridge.
He described the $3.9 billion budget as centred on cost-of-living, highlighting about $76.5 million in programs – most of which already existed, but in some cases have been expanded.
These include the Move Well scheme, pensioner rebates, free-off-peak transport for seniors and $2 summer dips.
“[The budget] acknowledges that people are doing it tough,” Schrinner said.
“It’s about keeping the right balance, about bringing the cost down wherever possible, finding the savings we can, but also directing the investment, to the places where it really counts.”
There will be $213 million invested into the Brisbane Metro, buses, CityCats and ferry network.
Funding has also been committed to the Emmanuel City Missions Night Sanctuary for people struggling with homelessness, with $250,000 to be provided every 12-months for the next three years.
Brisbane Times previously reported on a $110 million commitment for road resurfacing across the city, including at the southern approach to the Story Bridge.
Schrinner also confirmed various road projects including the Beams Road upgrade had been funded.
He said more than 90 per cent of spending would occur in the Brisbane suburbs.
The council will spend about $200 million less than last year, which the lord mayor attributed to the completion of major projects including the Kangaroo Point Bridge and Metro rollout.
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