BCC Budget 2019-20

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane City Council budget: Winners and losers

Brisbane City Council's 2019-20 budget contains initiatives to boost suburban renewal programs, build new bridges across the Brisbane River and begin the city's mega bus project, the Brisbane Metro.

However, the borrowings increase to pay for the $1 billion per year infrastructure will jump from $50 million (2018-19) to $220 million in 2019-20 to pay for the big capital works program.

WINNERS

First-home owners: They will receive a 50 per cent rates discount for 12 months for a home bought for up to $750,000.

Small businesses: New restaurants will have their annual footpath dining fees slashed by half, a saving of about $670 per year.  Start-up food businesses in general will have their  licence fees almost halved. Overall,  small businesses will have their  ongoing annual fees reduced by 10 per cent.

Koalas: The budget contains $386,000 to fund a koala research program to re-establish koalas in suitable forests without koalas. It also allocates $15.4 million over four yers to acquire 750 hectares of bush land by 2020. The koala is also added to Brisbane City Council's fauna emblem.

Public transport: $1.5 million over two years for an electric bus to be used as a trial for the future of public transport in Brisbane.

Brisbane Metro: The 21-kilometre mega bus link actually begins construction in 2019-20, with $125.3 million in this year's budget. It will connect 18 stations over two routes from  Eight Mile Plains to the city, and from Royal Brisbane and Womens's Hospital to University of Queensland. Work will begin on the underground bus station at South Bank in 2019-20.

City Cats: $30 million for six new double-decker CityCats, to be built at Murarrie by 2020.

Suburbs: Selected suburbs will be the focus of a new $2 million Suburban Renewal Program modelled on the successful regeneration of Teneriffe and New Farm.

Victoria Park: $1 million is allocated to begin the transformation of Victoria Park Golf Course into a 45-hectare new park for the city. About 26 hectares is now used as the Victoria Park Golf Course.

Mt Gravatt: $1.7 million to upgrade the Mt Gravatt Outlook Reserve and Stephens Mountain at nearby Greenslopes after campaigns by local residents.

City Heart: Five new green bridges over four years, with bridges from Kangaroo Point to the CBD, St Lucia to West End, Toowong and West End, Bellbowrie and Wacol Station Road and at Breakfast Creek.

LOSERS

Ratepayers: It should be noted that Brisbane City Council is increasing its borrowings again - as it did to build the Legacy Way tunnel from Indooroopilly to Bowen Hills. The money will pay for the city's new bridges, the city's share of Brisbane Metro and the new parks. Borrowings will increase from $50 million per year, to peak at $360 million in 2020-21 before declining. Some homeowners are paying almost double the average rates rise of $40 per year.

Commercial properties: The average commercial property rate rise is an average of 3.5 per cent across the range of land categories.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1138614458010329088

[ozbob]

Council Annual Plan and Budget 2019-20

> https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/council-information-and-rates/news-and-publications/council-annual-plan-and-budget-2019-20

[ozbob]

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