General News
1 July, 2026
Rates up by 5%
RATEPAYERS in the Cassowary Coast region will fork out, on average, an extra $165 per annum in the new financial year.
Cassowary Coast Regional Council’s budget for 2026-27 adds about $90 per year, or $1.73 a week – as a general rates increase of 5 %.
There are also increases in charges for water of about $38 for consumption under 300kL (a 15% rise) and waste for most residential ratepayers at $37 (up 5.5%).
Council says it has kept general rates rises “within inflation”, and according to a council media statement “we are retaining the discount for ratepayers who pay their rates on time because we understand how the discount helps to minimise financial impacts, especially during the current economic climate.”
Council also says “we have kept increases to water and waste charges to recover costs only. We’ve tried hard to keep water charges down. However, we must invest in the renewal of ageing infrastructure.”
Added to the new 2026-27 rates notices will be two free waste vouchers per year – one voucher in each rates notice, which council says is “to support residents to prepare for the wet season and to help with clean-ups.”
Council says its budget is an “economically responsible and community-focused $196.8 million financial plan” which invests in the region’s flood resilience, infrastructure and town centres “without unduly burdening ratepayers at a time of rising costs.”
Capital works has been allocated $80.66 million to mitigate flood risks and to renew roads, footpaths, bridges and water infrastructure, including:
Over $30m to upgrade unsealed roads to sealed roads, renew sealed roads and bridges and install new and wider footpaths. Road upgrades include Bowen Street, Jubilee Road, Scougall Road, Granadilla Road and Stephenson Road
Almost $20m secured through Disaster Relief Funding Arrangements (DRFA) to restore essential infrastructure following recent severe weather events
$8.36m to renew water infrastructure. Council says maintaining this network – around $212m – worth of assets – is one of its “biggest responsibilities and one of the largest costs to the community.” It is also investing $6.18m to maintain sewerage infrastructure.
Over $4m to deliver vital drainage upgrades across the Cassowary Coast, including in Cardwell, Castor Street in Mourilyan, Flying Fish Point basin outlet, Koda and Kwila streets in Wongaling Beach and Gregory Street in Silkwood. Council says it will “also progress solutions for Mill Street in Mourilyan and Goondi Bend in Innisfail and we’ve established a drainage reserve fund to help us find solutions for other impacted areas.”
Over $4 million for the Innisfail CBD to reseal roads, increase all-day parking, refresh line markings, upgrade intersections, introduce lush tropical planting and illuminating trees and improve the safety and accessibility of footpaths.
AdvertisementCouncil will “continue to develop Daradgee Estate and Eaton Estate, supported by $9.6m in external funding in 2026-27, which will increase the supply of well-located, flood-resilient housing while preserving the unique character of our region.”
$116m for core operations and services “including but not limited to swimming pools, libraries, stinger nets, emergency management, community grants, economic development, environmental initiatives, maintaining buildings and open spaces as well as cemeteries.”
Mayor Teresa Millwood said “this year’s $196.8 million budget reflects the council’s values – to make it better, be courageous, be accountable to our community, work smarter and grow our own – and keeps us moving towards making the Cassowary Coast the most liveable tropical community.”
“In developing the budget, we have listened closely to our community, businesses and primary producers to deliver a financial plan that priorities investment in the region’s flood resilience, infrastructure and town centres while at the same time minimising the impost on ratepayers during a time of rising costs,” she said.
“While we’re the wettest region in Australia, significant weather events in recent times have impacted our communities and tested our resilience.
“A major priority in this year’s budget is to mitigate flood risks and strengthen flood resilience in key locations – and we’re doing this through a $4m investment that will deliver vital drainage upgrades across the Cassowary Coast.
“We’ve also established a drainage reserve fund to deliver identified solutions for other impacted areas.
“Waste collection costs have been heavily impacted by fuel price increases and they continue to escalate. We’ve worked hard to identify efficiencies to keep costs down.”
Council says a “non-cash deficit” of $3.086m is in line with its financial sustainability strategy for 2025-2030, which it says identified a planned operating deficit through to 2032.
Cr Millwood said the non-cash deficit was solely the cost of our depreciating assets.
“We’ve deliberately decided to balance the deficit with the external funding we’ve received to renew assets, instead of pushing an extra cost onto ratepayers,” she said.
Read More: Cassowary Coast