Cook Shire Council has adopted a practical and financially disciplined 2025–26 Budget, prioritising essential service delivery and asset maintenance while recognising the ongoing economic challenges and limited capacity to generate own-source revenue.
With a modest net operating position of $2.1 million (excluding depreciation), the budget sharpens Council’s focus on fundamental services—particularly roads, water, waste, and drainage—and signals a continued commitment to securing increased investment from State and Federal Governments to meet the long-term needs of Cook Shire’s remote and widely dispersed communities.
“This budget is a direct response to what our community told us through the 2025 Community Scorecard and our largest-ever Budget Consultation,” said Mayor Robyn Holmes. “The message was clear—prioritise core services, invest in essential infrastructure, and spend responsibly. That’s exactly what we’ve done.”
““This budget is a direct response to what our community told us through the 2025 Community Scorecard and our largest-ever Budget Consultation…. The message was clear—prioritise core services, invest in essential infrastructure, and spend responsibly. That’s exactly what we’ve done.”
Targeted Capital Works Program: 90% Externally Funded
Council has endorsed a $7.62 million Capital Works Program, with $6.68 million (approximately 90%) funded through State and Federal grants. These externally funded projects include:
- Russell Creek Bridge deck replacement and Davies Hill/Horseshoe Bend slab renewal in Bloomfield ($1.85 million)
- Cooktown Scenic Rim walking trail rehabilitation ($1.1 million)
- Detailed design of future housing infrastructure in Lakeland ($3.73 million)
A further $940,000 funded by Council’s own revenue will support:
- Drainage improvements on Lakeland Access Road ($60,000)
- Critical maintenance works across roads, water, wastewater, buildings, and facilities Shire-wide ($880,000)
In addition to the capital program, Council will deliver approximately $55 million in Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) work which remain essential to repairing and restoring Cook Shire’s extensive local road network and infrastructure damaged during weather events.
“This program reflects the financial reality for a remote council with a small ratepayer base,” said Mayor Robyn Holmes. “We’re investing in the fundamentals and relying on strategic external funding to deliver major infrastructure projects.”
Cautious and Measured: Rates and Council Fees and Charges
Council has taken a measured approach to rates in the 2025-26 Budget. The minimum residential general rate will increase by 5.5%, equating to less than $1 per week for most ratepayers. The $100 early payment discount remains and no changes have been made to the Pensioner Rebate or Subsidy Scheme.
Nearly 39% of Council-imposed fees and charges have increased by 2.5% or less, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). In addition, a targeted “user pays” approach has been introduced for waste management to ease pressure on general rates and ensure a more equitable distribution of service costs.
“These modest and measured adjustments reflect what our community told us during the Budget Consultation process—they support fair, CPI-aligned increases, responsible spending, and a move toward more equitable cost sharing,” said Mayor Robyn Holmes.
Deferral of Non-Essential Projects
Guided by community feedback—where only 9% of respondents to the 2025 Budget Consultation supported rate increases for new or non-essential works—Council has deferred all non-essential projects in the 2025–26 financial year.
This decision followed an extensive internal review to identify cost saving opportunities across the organisation. The focus remains on maintaining essential services and ensuring long-term financial sustainability. Council remains committed to continuing this internal cost-efficiency process and will consider progressing additional projects based on demonstrated community need, prioritisation, and assessed viability—on a case-by-case basis—as savings are identified or suitable external funding becomes available.
“We’ll continue to review our position, and where opportunities arise—whether through cost savings or external funding—we’ll consider additional projects based on assessed community need, strategic priorities, and available resources,” said Mayor Robyn Holmes.
In closing, Mayor Holmes said, “This is a budget that makes deliberate choices in a constrained environment. It prioritises sustainability, meets statutory obligations, and continues to push for the external investment our region urgently needs.”
The comprehensive 2025-26 Budget documents can be viewed in the agenda for the 8 July Special Council meeting, with a formal summary document available in coming days.
Community members are encouraged to find out more about what this budget means for the community, and how it aligns with the outcomes identified in the recent Community Scorecard Survey and Budget Consultation by attending the Community Update event being held at the Cooktown Events Centre on Wednesday 16 July from 5:30-7:00 PM.
For more information contact Cook Shire Council via email to mail@cook.qld.gov.au or by phoning 4082 0500.
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