Gympie Regional Council has adopted its 2026/27 Budget.
This $263.4 million financial plan is focused on delivering a disciplined approach to spending to both ensure the community receives the services it relies on every day while also continuing to invest in the infrastructure needed to keep pace with our growing region.
For an overview of Council's 2026-27 Budget, view the budget document below or access it here.
You can also view the complete budget papers including financial policies, revenue statements and financial forecasts here.
View related media releases
Responsible financial management underpins 2026-27 Council Budget
Careful future planning a focus for 2026-2027 Council Budget
Operational plan delivers community priorities
Increased charges to maintain and improve essential infrastructure
Council collects rates to fund the services, facilities, and infrastructure our community relies on.
Each year, as part of the budget process, Council reviews and sets rates and charges for the coming financial year. By law, all rateable properties must be charged a general rate. This rate is based on your land value, as assessed by the Queensland Valuer-General, and is calculated using a cents-in-the dollar rate.
A minimum general rate also applies to every property, regardless of land value. This ensures each property contributes to the basic level of services provided across the region. Rates and charges help Council maintain infrastructure, deliver essential services, and responsibly manage community assets for the long term.
The minimum average general residential rate increase for 2026-2027 is 4.9%.
This equates to an average $1.69 weekly increase, which is less than the cost of a loaf of bread.
Eligible pensioners will receive an increased rebate of $200 per year on their rates; this supports 4,506 pensioner households.
See the graph below to understand how your general rate is invested per $100.
Please note, this excludes utility charges like water and rubbish.
Utility Charges
Gympie Regional Council owns and operates its own water and sewerage facilities. This means that unlike many other Councils, these utility charges appear on Gympie Council Rates Notices and are not provided separately by another entity.
In 2026-27, ratepayers will see increased charges for rubbish, water and sewerage. For residential ratepayers (who have access to all of these services), this equates to an annual increase of $260 annually (based on 200kl water consumption) or $5 per week.
Council has adopted a $139.6 million capital works program.
This proposed program details our plan for the year ahead and lists the total budget for 2026-27. Sometimes we know external factors, such as severe weather, can impact the delivery and completion of this program. Therefore, these works are subject to review and change throughout the financial year.
The program also includes projects that may be delivered in one financial year, and projects that will take several years to complete with only a portion of the total spend allocated this financial year.
See the below list of highlights grouped by geographical area for this financial year. The full program can be viewed at the bottom of the page.
Regionwide
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Gympie Civic Centre Renewal Project - $19.6 million
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Future Sporting Fields and Indoor Sports Facility - Partial Land Purchase, Business Case & Concept Design - $3.1 million
East
- Tin Can Bay Tailor Street to IGA Pathway Renewal | Deliver - $191,500
All capital projects
A full list of our Capital Works Projects which were approved as part of the 2026-2027 Budget can be accessed through the budget document.
The 2026-27 Council Budget includes funding for several priority major projects.
Water Infrastructure
Delivering quality essential services is a key priority for Council. As part of this budget, Council is investing millions into improving our water services to meet current demand and accommodate future growth.
This Budget includes a total $74.3 million investment into water and wastewater projects, underpinned by Council’s water security strategy to secure long-term water sources for the region.
Some significant areas of investment include progress on several projects under the Gympie Water Resilience & Augmentation Project - co-funded by the Regional Activation Fund, as well as critical infrastructure renewals across the region:
- $21 million to progress upgrade works for the Gympie Water Treatment Plant Sediment Tank – co-funded by the Regional Activation Fund
- $1.8 million to complete update works at the Goomeri Water Treatment Plant
- $9.75 million for the region-wide water network renewal program
- $2.8 million to design and deliver wastewater treatment plant upgrades at Goomeri, Imbil, and Kilkivan
- Mary Valley Water Supply Pipeline design
See the full list in the budget document.
Long-Term Waste Management
Council’s 2026-27 includes a total $8.36 million to secure the site and start planning for a new waste management facility for the region.
Underpinned by the waste strategy, this project aims to respond to limited landfill capacity and explore more sustainable solutions for waste management in the region.
Read more about the waste strategy: Waste Strategy 2025 - 2035
Future Sports Fields and Indoor Sports Facility
Council’s 2026-27 includes a total $3.1 million to purchase the land and progress planning for a future sports fields and indoor sports facility.
This is part of Council's strategy to set a solid foundation for future investment in a new recreational precinct for the future of the region to accommodate the diverse sporting needs of Gympie and surrounds.
Further details will be shared about this project soon. Read more about Council's plans for the future here.
Managing Community Assets
Council has the responsibility of managing and maintaining $2.6 billion worth of community assets such as halls, libraries, pools, saleyards, public buildings, bridges, and playgrounds.
A significant proportion of the budget is our annual depreciation cost which reflects the budget needed to be directed to capital projects to maintain the life of these assets.
A key priority of Council is identifying, assessing, and scheduling required works with a focus on meeting legislative compliance and improving assets for the enjoyment of the community.
A full list of proposed renewal programs for 2026-27 can be found in the budget document.
Civic Centre Renewal
Council is delivering a renewal of the Gympie Civic Centre, with construction estimated to be completed in early 2027, weather permitting.
This will deliver a renewed arts and cultural hub for the region, with the project to include replacement and upgrading of building amenities including toilets, showers, and dressing rooms, a fit-out of seating and acoustic finishes, renewal of floor, wall, and ceiling finishes, and replacement and/or upgrade of a range of services including electrical, ICT, mechanical, fire hydraulics, AV and specialist theatrical equipment, lighting, and more.
$19.6 million has been allocated in the 2026-27 Budget to complete construction.
For more information on the project: Gympie Civic Centre Renewal
Read more about how Council is planning for the future: Media Release - Careful future planning a focus for 2026-2027 Council Budget
Your rates and charges go to a range of services and initiatives that support your everyday life in Gympie Region.
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Looking after parks, beaches and public spaces
Mowing, playgrounds, public toilets, foreshores and the places people use every day.
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Running community facilities and programs
Libraries, community spaces, sport and recreation facilities, and cultural venues.
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Planning, safety and local services
Development approvals, animal management, local laws and helping residents access Council services.
What your rates don’t cover
Many of the issues people raise with Council are actually the responsibility of other levels of government.
The Queensland Government is responsible for:
- Public housing and homelessness services
- Hospitals and the public health system
- Police and emergency services
- Public schools and education
- Major roads and highways
- Child protection and youth justice
- Public transport
While Council may support local initiatives or advocate on behalf of the community, we do not fund or control these services.
The Australian Government is responsible for:
- Centrelink and income support
- Medicare and aged care funding
- Immigration and border control
- Defence and national security
- Taxation and economic policy
- Funding for major national infrastructure
Did you know?
For every tax dollar, local governments only receive 3 cents, despite being responsible for a third of the services people rely on.
- Federal government – 81 cents
- State government – 16 cents
- Councils – 3 cents
We understand you might have some questions. See the below answers to some common budget questions.
What does ratepayer money pay for?
Council provides a wide range of services and infrastructure such as roads, drainage, waste collection, sewerage and water services through to building, plumbing, animal management, town planning, and community programs and workshops. Some costs are visible, like new footpaths, landscaping, or playground upgrades. Others, like maintaining critical infrastructure, planning, community partnerships, and administration are less visible, but just as important to keep our region running.
How is the annual budget determined?
Each year, Council prepares a budget that balances community needs, infrastructure priorities, and available funding. It’s shaped by strategic planning, service reviews, and legislation—all with consideration to rising costs and available revenue.
Council uses important planning documents to help shape the budget. These include things like the corporate plan (our big-picture goals), the operational plan (what we’re doing this year), and the asset management plans (how we look after things like roads, parks and buildings).
To plan how much money Council needs—and where it’s going to come from—Council considers a variety of factors, like how much services cost, the level of service required, any risks or legal requirements, what grant funding is available and the overall economy.
Before Council considers raising rates or charges, it considers the range of grants, contributions, or other revenue sources that could be available.
Why do rates go up every year?
The costs of delivering services are subject to national economic inflation. Things like fuel, materials, labour, insurances, and leasing are all expenses that increase over time and need to be accounted for in the budget. Council works hard to keep rate increases as low as possible while being financially responsible and adapting to the rising costs of delivering essential services.
Why doesn't Council just reduce spending instead of raising rates and charges?
As part of the budget preparation process, Council undertakes a comprehensive review to identify any opportunities to reduce costs. However, like all households and businesses, some rising costs like materials, services, electricity and insurance are unavoidable. Cutting more deeply would mean reducing or removing essential services that our communities rely on.
What is depreciation?
Council is responsible for a wide range of community facilities and infrastructure. Just like your car, the value of these assets declines over time as the asset experiences wear and tear.
Depreciation expense is the cost of this wear and tear. This cost is factored into the financial accounts and used to fund replacement and repair of these assets at some point in the future.
Councils should ensure these funds are available for future investment and not use them to fund new assets as the funds may not be available if and when existing assets fail.
Given the significant asset base that Gympie Regional Council has (around $2.6 billion), depreciation expense reflects a significant cost and accounts for about 25% of Council’s operating budget.
I live on a rural property and I don't use Council services as much as everyone else. Why should I pay the same?
Even if you don’t regularly use facilities like pools or libraries, your rates go toward shared services that benefit the entire region - like rural roads, waste facilities, bushfire and disaster preparedness, animal control, and invasive pest management.
While you may not personally use every service or facility supported by your rates, Council is committed to making these services available for everyone in the community. They’re here when you need them—whether that’s today, tomorrow, or sometime in the future.
When it comes to utilities charges like water or rubbish collection, Council charges through a 'user-pays' model which means it directly links the cost of providing these services with ratepayers who receive them.
I am having trouble paying my rates. Can Council help?
Absolutely. Council understands times are tough and we are all feeling the pinch.
There are several ways Council can help manage outstanding rates including paying in weekly, fortnightly, and monthly instalments. Council also offers payment plans to manage outstanding debts.
Contact our friendly customer contact centre on 1300 307 800 or visit one of our service centres to discuss your circumstances further.
Why do our rates sometimes look higher than other places?
It’s difficult to compare rates between councils because each area has unique factors, such as population density, land values, and the types of services provided.
Gympie covers a large area with many roads, parks, drainage systems, and community facilities to maintain. However, fewer people live here than in major cities, meaning the costs of providing services are spread across fewer ratepayers.
For example, Gympie has around 57,449 people spread across 6,898km², which works out to about 8.3 people per square kilometre.
In comparison, Brisbane has a much higher population density of just over 1,000 people per square kilometre, which means that the cost of services is shared among more ratepayers.
Ratepayers in the Gympie Regional Council area will also see utilities like waste and water on their rates notice. This is because unlike many other local government areas, Gympie Council is responsible for managing the water supply and all the infrastructure needed to treat and provide water to each property accessing the town water supply. Other areas in SEQ receive a separate bill for these services from external providers such as Unitywater or SEQ Water.
These differences in population density - along with differences in services included on your rate notice - mean simple comparisons of rates between regions can be misleading.
Please see the documents from Council’s adopted budgets over the past five years below: