Councillors' Budget addresses

Cr Brett Moller, Division 1

As an elected Councillor, now entering into my 10^th consecutive Special (Budget) Meeting of our Cairns Regional Council, this budget allows me to reflect what has been achieved in Division 1, during that time, from Edmonton, east to East Trinity, west to Goldsborough, and south all the way to Babinda/Bramston Beach, our Council’s largest division, and what we can look forward to in the 2025/2026 year ahead.

I brought to our Council on my election back in 2016, a focused strategy with the adoption and implementation of economic development plans for Gordonvale and Babinda, with those communities identified today as a key focus area for economic development. We have and are seeing residential and commercial developments from Edmonton, south to Gordonvale and further south to Babinda. A new Medical Centre in the Babinda township, new tourism offerings with the establishment of the Babinda Museum and Babinda Boulders development and safety upgrades, improvements at Pacific Park Bramston Beach, residential development and commercial developments along Riverstone Road,  Draper Road and Maher Roads Gordonvale, Woolworths shopping centre, KFC, a future medical centre and a new retirement living project, along with the expansion of Pyramid Residential Care Centre. There has been continued growth of Edmonton and Mt Peter, and after its gazettal I pushed to have that area formally acknowledged and named, and now with our advocacy for a Priority Development Area to be declared, our Council is looking to grow this community along with the recreational spaces and needed trunk infrastructure, unlocking further alternate housing supply desperately needed.

My focus on providing footpaths, playgrounds and playground upgrades, improved roads, and more community events and infrastructure will continue under this budget, for improved liveability for our residents.

Most importantly, as a fourth generation resident in Gordonvale with a long family history of contributing to the Gordonvale and Babinda communities and the southern corridor of Cairns,  I am excited as a local Councillor, with my fellow Councillors as decision makers, to see in this budget our Council’s  largest ever capital works program of $421.8 M of which $260.1M will be expended as part of our Cairns Water Security Project, with a new water treatment plant at Jones Road in Division 1, and associated piping and materials, that will provide a new water supply into the future to enable our city to grow and provide for that liveability, that this generational, critical and essential infrastructure will bring.

Finally, to all of our staff, within this building and out in our depots and elsewhere, thank you for your continued support and your dedication and hard work, in serving our residents of Cairns. You are very much appreciated.

Cr Matthew Tickner, Division 2

This budget is different from previous budgets. Now I wouldn’t go as far as calling it a full reform to how this Council thinks about our finances, but I would say it is a big contemporary pivot to ensure our position is right for the current economic landscape we find ourselves in. This budget looks to challenge the fundamentals of previous years, which at the time may have worked to deliver what was required – however new challenges, of larger magnitude have pushed this Council to re-think how we approach our fiscal balance.

We have worked hard to ensure the community is treated equally and that the cost of the services we all enjoy are socialised equally throughout the rate payer base of our city. This is why we have:

• Reduced the rate in the dollar by 15.5% for our residential properties to ensure the recent State Government land valuations don’t severely impact residents over and above what is reasonable.
• We have increased the pensioner rates discount from $320 to $335 further adding to the support we are providing to the almost 9000 pensioners in our city, building on last years’ increase and the additional co-ownership changes made in the 24/25 budget.
• We have frozen almost all fees and charges this year to ensure no additional costs for parking, pool visits, waste transfer station fees and animal registrations.
• And we are investing in community infrastructure at a scale never seen before, with a record $421.8M Capital Works program.

As the Division 2 Councillor, I have spent the past 12 months advocating for the investment required, in the areas it is required and the flow on impact can be seen in the significant projects lined up to be delivered, including:

• As part of the $3m Active Travel Pathway Program - Division 2 has secured two new significant pathway projects which include a new footpath along Ravizza Drive and a new Footpath along Graham Street in Edmonton linking up the recently finalised works on Mt. Peter Road.
• Keeping on Graham Street in Edmonton, Tom Phillips Park will see a new, refreshed playground installed in this budget along with funding in the forwards for a number of our other local playgrounds including Wilmot Park in Edmonton, Fifie Park in Mt. Sheridan and Fuller Park in Edmonton, as well as a new toilet facility at Todd Park in Bentley Park.
• And for a project I am particularly passionate about – We have successfully commenced work and increased the investment from $2m to $3m for Sugarworld Adventure Playground which will see a significant upgrade bringing the playground facility up to true ‘Destination Park’ standard.
• In this budget we will see design work commence on the Chay Road/Walker Road interconnection, a project that straddles the Divisional boundaries of 1 and 2 and will transform the interconnectability of the Edmonton area and allow for further growth in the Mt. Peter Growth Corridor.

After a rigorous process, in which we have seen immense collaboration between all the Councillors in this chamber and our amazing operations team, I am very satisfied with this budget and believe that all the decisions made within it are fiscally sensible and with community focus at its core.

Cr Cathy Zeiger, Division 3

I want to thank Lisa Whitton & her team for their hard work, and many workshops & changes we have had leading up to today.

Good news for Div 3, as we will see Stage 2 of the Jeff Pezzutti Masterplan in Woree commence construction. This area has a lot of families who will benefit from the large ‘consultation driven’ designed skate park, basketball court and a new playground.  Almost 9 years since the initial consultations were held, it is great to see it about to come to fruition.

Our White Rock based Community & Multicultural Centre is not far behind, stay tuned for announcements for 26/27 commencement.

On a different note, I must say that the proposed major change in the ratings category leading up to today’s Budget Meeting has caused me more angst than any other topic in any previous budget.

I am talking about the proposed changes that will affect Retirement Village residents.

In theory only, I support the Policy proposal, the ideology of an equitable rating system. With all residents paying rates according to size of property etc., to ensure Council can continue to provide the amazing services that it does.

Whilst noting that council rates the landowners, not individual residents,

The proposed rating change if passed on will see every dwelling in a retirement village rated equal to what is currently charged to dwellings in Strata Titled Villages, Multi-Unit Dwellings etc.

Unfortunately, the unintended consequence of suddenly increasing the rating for this cohort, will cause hardship on those who, when initially buying into their property, did so with their retirement budget in mind and were unaware that they would be paying much higher rates in the future.

Some, but not all are on a pension, with limited or no savings. Some had two pensions and now only one.

I have researched the issue extensively, consulted residents, gone through surveys, petitions and examined relevant legislation in search of a solution.

My proposal is to "grandfather" the current cohort of pensioners. Meaning existing eligible pensioners would be exempt from the increase, while new buyers would enter under the new terms with full knowledge.

Legal advice sought from LGAQ confirmed this approach was viable under Local Government Regulation 2012, clause 120.

Despite presenting a compassionate and viable solution, I was unable to gain enough support to pursue it further, which is deeply disappointing.

Although a phased rate increase over four years has been proposed, I question its long-term sustainability for elderly residents with limited income. Even with the increase in pensioner discounts, I argue that the rise will still burden pensioners who are financially vulnerable and unprepared. What happens after four years?

With this said, I am unable to support this rating change as detailed in the motion or associated changes including the offered pension discount as it does not include grandfathering for this cohort.

I urge my fellow Councillors to support the inclusion of a Grandfather clause in the proposed changes.

This will ensure that the current cohort of pensioners—who have responsibly budgeted to live out their remaining years in their homes—are not unfairly burdened by sudden changes. It is a matter of fairness and respect for those who have contributed to our community over the years.

Cr Trevor Tim, Division 4

Division 4 – the smallest division out of the nine, but as they say beautiful things come in small packages.

I would like to report:

New playground at Henley's Hill Park worth $240K. A huge thank you to Council officers, the park is in the cusp of Division 3 and Division 4. So, I met with Cr Cathy Zeiger to get some great shots of the end product, it was hard to get photos as there were kids running everywhere!

Also, drainage work being done at Henley’s Tennis Club to prevent water flowing onto the tennis courts. And after face-to-face meetings with constituents in Kanimbla and petitions received, the bollards will remain in place in McFarlane Drive.

Footpaths put in place on Enmore Street and continued through to Enmore Street in Division 7. Speaking of Division, Cr Anna Middleton and I joined forces – a joint venture with our discretionary funds to build a new basketball court in Pease Street in front of Edge Hill Tavern and McDonalds. Keeping our youth active, old saying “idol times in idol hands in the devil’s playground”.

Small wins but huge progress. Thank you.

Cr Rob Pyne, Division 5

Mayor Eden, fellow Councillors, and the hardworking residents of Cairns, I thank all Councillors for delivering a budget that works for our entire community, including our vibrant inner-city suburbs and CBD. This is a budget that builds on our strengths while making smart investments where they are needed most.

In terms of revitalising our inner-city suburbs, we are making targeted investments to enhance liveability across our inner-city neighbourhoods. A significant portion of our $421.8 million capital works program will focus on:

• Upgrading local roads and improving pedestrian safety with new footpaths
• Enhancing suburban parks and green spaces
• Supporting streetscape improvements that boost local businesses

These projects will make our inner suburbs more connected, attractive, and functional for residents and visitors alike. Then there is arts, culture and infrastructure. Our Cairns CBD is the beating heart of our region, and this budget delivers:

• $10 million investment in tourism, sports, and culture—with a strong focus on CBD arts and cultural events
• Major upgrades to public spaces and heritage areas
• Improved pedestrian connectivity throughout the city centre

We are positioning Cairns as the cultural capital of the north, where arts and business thrive together and I thank Councillor Anna Middleton for her advocacy in this space.

In terms of connecting our community, our $3.7 million pathways program will:

• Improve links between inner-city suburbs and the CBD
• Create safer walking routes to schools and shopping areas
• Complete key missing links in our active transport network

We all want a fair share for Cairns and while this budget delivers real progress, I must stress our ongoing need for:

• Greater state and federal infrastructure funding
• Support for major projects that benefit the entire region
• Fairer funding formulas that recognise our unique challenges. Especially climate resilience funding.

As Councillor Coughlan knows all too well, local councils are on the frontline of climate change impacts, facing extreme weather events, heatwaves, and flooding—all of which threaten infrastructure, ecosystems, and community wellbeing. State and federal climate adaptation funding is essential to ensure local governments can, protect critical infrastructure, safeguard vulnerable communities and preserve natural defences such as wetlands, mangroves and green corridors.

This budget strikes the right balance. It is a plan that recognises our diverse needs and delivers for all of Cairns. I commend it to Council.

Cr Kristy Vallely, Division 6

It’s hard to believe I’m now in my fifth year as a Councillor. Time has flown, and yet so much has happened in our city, in our neighbourhoods, and in the lives of the people we serve. It’s a real privilege to stand here today and speak to this year’s budget one that I believe reflects both responsibility and heart.

This job means the world to me. And it’s not just about roads, rates, and rubbish although those things absolutely matter. It’s about people. It’s about community. It’s about listening to what really matters: to the mums juggling work and school runs, to the small business owners doing their best to stay afloat, and to the older residents who’ve watched this place grow and change over a lifetime.

That’s exactly what this budget tries to honour.

We’re investing in the basics fixing roads, upgrading parks, and maintaining the services people rely on every day. But we’re also looking ahead, making sure our community is prepared for the future in a sustainable and thoughtful way.

For me, particularly in Division 6, I’m thrilled to see a nearly $2.4 million investment in the Redlynch Sporting Precinct in the coming financial year, with another $5 million committed the year after. This will be a game changer for our community.

As I look across the 10-year program, I’m also incredibly pleased to see the bring forward of the$6 million commitment to the long-awaited footpath connection between Brinsmead and Freshwater. This link is one of the most important missing pieces in our active transport network, and seeing it forecast for commencement in 2027/28 is a huge step forward for safety, accessibility, and connectivity in our city.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge our incredible staff  the people who make all of this possible. From the crews out on the ground at first light, to the staff in admin, finance, planning, libraries, waste, and every department in between you are the quiet achievers who keep this community running. I’ve seen your pride in your work, your commitment to doing a great job even when no one is watching. I just want to say: thank you.

We see you, and we appreciate you.

To the finance and executive teams I know how much time, care, and thought has gone into getting this budget right. Balancing needs, numbers, and community expectations is no easy task, and I thank you for your professionalism and dedication.

To my fellow councillors this is a big responsibility we carry. But I believe what unites us is that we care deeply about this place and the people in it. I’m proud to sit alongside you.

And finally, to the community thank you. For your honesty, your ideas, your patience, and your passion. I’ve been moved, challenged, inspired, and humbled in this role more times than I can count. I carry your stories and your trust with me every single day.

This budget reflects what we’ve heard. It’s fair, it’s balanced, and it’s focused on what truly matters. I’m proud to support it, and proud to be part of this council and this community.

Cr Anna Middleton, Division 7

This year's budget reflects the continued balance between delivering a high level of service, operational costs and funding capital works projects, while maintaining a sensible and sustainable fiscal position. A guiding principle in this budget is the recognition that we are accountable to use public monies for public benefit.

We have achieved this with the expert guidance of our financial team led by Lisa Whitton. A special mention to Steve Cooper whose considered and professional approach throughout the budget process is appreciated.  Thank you.

Firstly, to address the rate adjustment to the landowners of retirement villages. It has been challenging decision, and I want to thank the residents at Regis in Whitfield for the honest and respectful dialogue that we have had. I urge the companies who own these properties to also take the time to engage with their residents as we have

In Division 7, the 2025/26 year will see some exciting projects:

• A rocking $1.4 million dollar upgrade of the Tanks Arts Centre and activating a $1.2 million upgrade of the Red Arrow Walking track
• This year's investments in pathways projects should see improvements on Fallon, McCormack, McManus Little Pease, English St and Enmore St. We will see the finishing of the 1590m of path along Greenslopes St and an upgrade of Saltwater Creek Bridge
• Division 7 is rich in sporting facilities, clubs and community groups and the one million dollars budgeted for community partnerships and Go Clubs funding will continue to help these organisations thrive.
• A project close to my heart will be the completion of the Pease St Basketball court with fencing in conjunction with Cr Tim. I had 14-year-old Will ring me a few weeks ago congratulating CRC on the newly upgraded playground at Engineers Park but he was hoping we could build a basketball court so he and his friends would have something to do. When I told him that indeed a basketball court was underway in his area - the cheer he gave, well it just made my day!

This budget will mostly be about the running this city ….the roads, the drains, water security, planning,  waste and all those important facets that our incredible Council teams manage on a daily basis, but it will still be the basketball court that Will and his mates assure me they will use every day that make me the most proud to be Division 7 Councillor and support this budget.  Thank you.

Cr Rhonda Coghlan, Division 8

My sixth budget - and I can tell you - it doesn’t get any easier.

There are always tough decisions to make. As a Council, we remain deeply mindful of the future needs of our community, while being conscious of the impact any increase may have on that very same community.

Our region is still feeling the effects of Cyclone Jasper. In the immediate aftermath, Council’s focus has been on restoring critical infrastructure and supporting residents to get back on their feet. But the recovery journey is far from over.

This year’s budget includes more than $28.9 million for ongoing disaster recovery works. This includes restoration of the Lake Placid recreation area and the construction of a new bridge on Casuarina Street at Holloways Beach.

We also expect to see Barron Gorge Road reopen around the end of the year—another important connection lost to Jasper.

Alongside these essential repairs, there are bright spots in this budget for the coming financial year and beyond:

• $150,000 allocated for the renewal of Old School Park in Yorkeys Knob.
• Renewal of public amenities—at the southern end of Machans Beach and Tom Dooley Park in Smithfield this year.
• $120,000 set aside for design work for the future Smithfield Leisure Precinct. Just to name a few.
• $3,000,000 over two years for neighbourhood pathways across the LGA. (it's worth noting that this is one of the most requested pieces of infrastructure requested by residents) this includes missing links in Machans Beach and Yorkeys Knob.
• Funding for the Smithfield Library renewal.
• Work begins on the $15,000,000 upgrade to the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park in partnership with the State Government.

Thanks to advocacy efforts of the Cairns Mountain Bike Club and Council with funding commitment of the State Government.

These much-needed infrastructure improvements are highly anticipated by our community and will help deliver lasting benefits.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Ms Lisa Whitton and her team. Lisa’s patience has been immeasurable. We’ve gone through this document line by line—over and over—spending countless hours refining the detail.

I also extend my thanks to the directors and their teams. Time and time again, they are asked to do more with less—stretching every dollar as far as possible. Their dedication and professionalism are what help bring this budget to life.

Cr Brett Olds, Deputy Mayor and Division 9

I just want to thank Lisa, and your team as well, straight off the bat.

Budget, it's the most important thing we do.

It's a privileged position that we're all put in, to work with other people's money, and councils aren't like any other business.

It's so dynamic with so many different moving parts.

It's the 10th Budget that I've had the honour of being involved in, and I've got to say, out of the 10, this one has probably run the most smoothly – from your leadership from the start, but also all your executives up there and with your teams underneath, you’re always trying to deal with the service levels.

We don't have many levers to operate as a Council.

You can lower service levels if you're trying to save some money here and there, but the residents don't like that. We've got to keep those service levels up.

You can take on more debt – debt is a tool you can use that's actually a beneficial one, but you always have to pay it back with interest, unfortunately, which is you guys back there.

The other one is what we're doing today, rates and charges, and it's a very serious business.

I've been in the back rooms now, like I said, 10 times, and I've seen tears spill. It feels like sometimes bloods been let on the ground, you know.

But this year, the way it was handled from start to finish and this is your first one with us, Ken, the CEO, your leadership, too. I missed the most impressive workshop, I was overseas when Councillors texted me saying, "Mate, you should have seen Ken and Lisa's presentation today.” Thank you for your leadership through all this.

I know we usually talk about what's going on in our neighbourhoods and divisions, like this rock wall in Clifton Beach. Budgets are a fluid thing too. They've already started work last year, but that'll continue through this financial year.

There are footpaths coming everywhere, I think people will talk about that $3 million later, and as you mentioned Mayor, that’s fantastic. We have got toilets at Ellis Beach, we need them – when you need them, you need them.

I put videos up all the time on what we are doing at the beaches, there is a lot of good stuff coming forward.

I think if you work sensible, and I think you are right, this very pragmatic budget we are delivering today is practical, and I think it is fair and equitable.

We have heard from you guys (retirement village residents) and we do have empathy. Spreading it out to four years – we were going to wrap the Band-Aid off originally and do the retirement villages in one year – but spreading it over four years, hopefully will help.

But we do have to get that parity at some stage.

The Bluewater dredging fees, which we vote on later, Councillor Coghlan and myself have been talking for a long time, I've had so many people reaching out to us. I actually really feel for them.

All the people that live on the canals there, those at Yorkeys Knob Boat Club in the Bluewater Marina, their fees are going up, I think, over $2,000 a year on top of what they're already paying, and that's just a cost neutral exercise for Council and under the State legislation we have to be the ones to be the trustees of that, but there's not one cent that's made, there's no profit.

But I just want to point out while the media is in the room too, there is a rock wall, a groin that needs to go across at the entrance, across from the Yorkeys Knob boat ramp, and Council has been planning that for years and this current State Government made a commitment to pay for that whole thing. There is apparently a fish trap, an Aboriginal fish trap, that's there, that's caused all kinds of headaches. If you read the sign over on the boat ramp at Yorkeys Knob, it says it's a Chinese fish trap. Whatever it is, it's a few rocks that no one can see. The only way I can see those fees of Bluewater coming down is to get that groin built.

So, we need to dig that fish trap out, put it in a museum, if that's what it is, and get that groin built. Otherwise, it is what it is.

But thank you again to the executives, Lisa, you and your team, and all my colleagues over here for so professional, collaborative throughout this whole budget whole process.

Really proud of all of us. Thanks.