Infrastructure and community facilities feature in Scenic Rim's 2023-2024 Budget

Maintenance and construction of public infrastructure and community facilities are key priorities in Scenic Rim Regional Council's $112.17 million 2023-2024 Budget.

The budget provides more than $11.75 million for road maintenance, which includes $7.62 million for general maintenance of roads and footpaths for safety and accessibility, and $2.47 million for resheeting of gravel roads and shoulders.

The remainder has been allocated for the maintenance of road signs, lines and guardrails and approaches to the Scenic Rim's town centres.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said most of the $2 million allocated to minor roadworks, pavement rehabilitation and betterment works will represent Council's contribution towards Betterment projects associated with ongoing disaster-related construction works or be allocated to reconstruction works for which there was no external source of funding.

"With the assistance of the Queensland and Australian Governments, Council continues to deliver the reconstruction of essential public assets under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) across the Scenic Rim in response to six separate declared events," he said.

"The total value of these works may exceed $70 million, which illustrates the scale of the impact these disasters and extreme weather events have had on our region's road network."

In addition, Council has allocated $3.6 million for resealing some 50 kilometres of roads to maximise their lifespan and achieve best value for ratepayers.

The $270,000 upgrade of the Boonah depot as part of Council's asset management program will provide the infrastructure necessary to continue to support the delivery of a high standard of service to the community through the maintenance of roads, parks and other community assets.

Council's 2023-2024 Budget provides $1.65 million for capital spending on community facilities and $6.66 million for the ongoing maintenance of public assets including swimming pools, community halls, cultural centres, libraries, sporting facilities and parks infrastructure.

Council is working closely with the Youth and Community Centre Beaudesert and has allocated $30,000 in the 2023-2024 Budget to progress plans for a Police Citizens Youth Club, after confirming in February that a preferred site for this project had been identified in Beaudesert.

In line with Council's Playground Strategy, the Moriarty Park Playground at Canungra will be upgraded at a cost of $92,000.

More than $68,000 has been allocated in the budget to the upgrade of picnic shelters in parks throughout the Scenic Rim.

"Each year, Council replaces some four picnic shelters at parks across our region to ensure these facilities meet the standards expected by our residents and visitors," Mayor Christensen said.

"Our investment in parks and playgrounds contributes to our region's liveability and adds value to our communities."

Landscape maintenance for 129 parks and 59 gardens, covering a total area of more than 456 hectares, and six cemeteries, as well as the region's town centres, has been allocated $4.03 million.

Council's capital allocation of more than $482,000 to parks and landscaping includes almost $390,000 to improve the internal access roads at Boonah Cemetery.

With the focus on increasing the efficiency of waste management, Council has allocated $1.13 million to capital works at the Bromelton Landfill.

Key works include $600,000 in addition to the $870,000 allocated in 2022-2023 to cap the most recently filled landfill cell. The purchase of landfill alternative day covers at $300,000 - reducing the need for soil covering - and the removal of the landfill's bund at a cost of $200,000 will increase the space available for waste disposal.

The Scenic Rim's waste transfer stations will also benefit from capital expenditure of $424,000.

This includes $224,000 across four of the seven waste transfer station sites, for improved recycling and waste recovery storage to maximise current and potential waste recovery streams, and $120,000 for improved security through the installation and upgrading of fencing at a number of sites.

"The delivery of essential services, including maintenance of the local road network, as well as parks, gardens and community infrastructure and the management of waste and resources are the key elements of our 2023-2024 Budget," Mayor Christensen said.

"Community feedback has been invaluable in determining our budget priorities and financial settings for the year ahead."