If the 2025-26 Council Budget could be summed up in one word it would be “lacklustre.” Apart from a few basic road resurfacing, drainage and park projects, there does not seem to be much in the way of essential projects needed to make our local community safer. There seems to be only minimal funding for essential city-wide projects too, just $13m to fix the Story Bridge which is crumbling.
It is a bit hard to tell, because for the second year running the Lord Mayor has chosen not to publish detailed programme and project figures for Budget initiatives. Yes, you read that correctly. There are no detailed figures in the Council Budget. The lack of transparency is troubling. It may be that over the next couple of weeks more information comes to hand as I am able to ask questions about where the money is being spent. If it was good news though, you would think the Lord Mayor would be happy to shout the figures from the roof of City Hall.
Rates are a mixed basket with an average increase of 4.7%, but fees and charges are up. Pensioner subsidies and rebates are continuing which is good news in tough economic times.
A summary of what was announced in the Budget today is noted below. As always I will stretch the small amount of discretionary funds available to as many local projects, activities and events as possible to enrich community life in Tennyson Ward.
What’s In the Budget Locally
Annerley
- Clive St resurfacing
- Ipswich Rd resurfacing
- Warwick St resurfacing (carryover from 24-25 Budget) and footpath reconstruction
- Annerley Junction Fest funding
Chelmer
- Chelmer St E footpath reconstruction
- Plumridge St resurfacing
- Walter Taylor Bridge maintenance
- Harte St stormwater drainage project (continuing)
Corinda
- Spencer St resurfacing (carryover)
- Balderstone St resurfacing
- Blackheath Rd resurfacing
- Hall Ave resurfacing
- Lamb St resurfacing
- Nelson St resurfacing
- Probyn St resurfacing
- Oxley Creek vegetation management Benarrawa Reserve (continuing) and Pratten St
- Francis Outlook Park upgrades
Fairfield
- Cross St drainage upgrade
- Fenton St resurfacing
Graceville
- Appel St resurfacing
- Graceville Ave resurfacing
- Long St E resurfacing
- Sandon St resurfacing
- Faulkner Park dog park upgrade
- Graceville Riverside Park upgrade
Oxley
- Lincoln St resurfacing
- Oxley Community Festival funding
Sherwood
- Sherwood Community Festival funding
Tennyson
- Goodwin St resurfacing
Yeerongpilly
- Fairfield Rd drainage upgrade
Yeronga
- Orlando Rd resurfacing
- Orsova Rd resurfacing
- Utzon St resurfacing
- Yeronga Memorial Park Memorial Wall restoration (continuing)
What’s in the Budget Nearby
- Bilvest St, Oxley resurfacing
- Duke St, Annerley resurfacing (carryover from 24-25 Budget)
- St Kilda Pl, Annerley resurfacing
- Wingfield St, Annerley resurfacing
- Ipswich Rd, Rocklea resurfacing
- Marshall Rd, Rocklea resurfacing
Budget Lowlights
Here are a few of the projects the Lord Mayor forgot to fund in Tennyson Ward:
- new footpaths – 0 (there are no new projects city-wide)
- road upgrades – 0
- intersection upgrades – 0 (there are only ten new projects city-wide)
- traffic calming – 0 (there are only two new projects city-wide)
- kerb and channel – 0 (there are no new projects city-wide)
- community street tree plantings – 0
- dog off leash upgrades – 1 (there are eight new projects city-wide)
- new playgrounds – 1 (there are only nine new projects city-wide)
- park facility upgrades – 1 (there are only 22 new projects ward-wide)
- park and bikeway lighting – 0 (there are only four new projects city-wide)
- community sport partnerships – 0
- new bikeways – 0
Keep in mind there are 26 wards in Brisbane, and in most project areas many wards are missing out altogether.
City-Wide Budget Update
Budget at a Glance
- Average rates increase of 4.7% or $15 per quarter or $1.14 per week
- residential rates cap of 7.5%
- net debt decreased to $3.68 billion
- full pensioner rates rebates increased to $1298 (exc. water) and part pensioner rates rebates increased to $649 (exc. water)
- continued free off-peak travel for seniors on buses and ferries
- Waste charges increase from $463.44 to $512.96—all households currently without a green waste bin to receive a green wheelie bin at a cost of $49.52 a year
- $13 million for Story Bridge repairs and $5 million for business case for a major upgrade
- $2pp swimming pool entry over summer
- $69.5 million for Brisbane Libraries
- $33.4 million for botanic gardens
Click here to view the budget online.
Rates Rise by Suburb
| Suburb | Rates Increase 24-25 | Rates Increase 25-26 |
| Annerley | 5.57% | 5.64% |
| Chelmer | 0.66% | -1.26% |
| Corinda | 0.42% | 6.28% |
| Fairfield | 1.64% | -2.84% |
| Graceville | 1.9% | 1.59% |
| Oxley | 3.83% | 1.17% |
| Sherwood | 1.19% | 3.16% |
| Tennyson | 1.15% | -0.93% |
| Yeronga | 3.5% | -0.38% |
| Yeerongpilly | 6.45% | 6.7% |
What’s Not In The Budget Locally
Each year, as your local Councillor, I put together a budget submission based on feedback from local residents, community groups, schools, Council officers and my own observations. This is submitted to the Lord Mayor who then personally determines what is funded in the Budget.
Some of the projects the Lord Mayor has refused to fund, in some cases now for many years, include:
- dozens of local pedestrian, road safety and traffic calming projects;
- a new Sherwood Rd dedicated off-road bikeway;
- Graceville Fiveways and Annerley Junction shopping centre improvements;
- drainage and backflow valves in Chelmer, Graceville, Yeronga, Yeerongpilly, Fairfield and Tennyson;
- intersection upgrades to Oxley Rd/Cliveden Ave, Corinda, Ipswich Rd/Venner Rd, Annerley, Fairfield Rd roundabout, the Graceville Fiveways, and Annerley Rd/Noble St, Annerley;
- Nixon Park, Oxley playground upgrade;
- repairs and upgrades to Dunlop Park car park and Yeronga Memorial Park car park; and
- Graceville Rail Station zebra crossing.
Budget estimates information sessions will be held on Friday and Monday and I may have a further update next week. I will keep fighting for important local projects in next year’s budget.