Council has formally endorsed and published the 2026–27 Budget Consultation Community Insights Report following this week’s Ordinary Council Meeting, marking Cook Shire Council’s most successful budget engagement process to date.
More than 115 residents from across Cook Shire participated in the consultation through online surveys and in-person community sessions, providing valuable feedback on Council priorities, services, infrastructure and affordability ahead of the development of the 2026–27 Budget.
The report, now publicly available on Council’s website, provides a transparent overview of what the community said, including the issues residents most want improved, the services they value most, and how they believe Council should balance affordability with maintaining essential infrastructure and services.
The engagement revealed strong and consistent feedback around roads, drainage and footpaths, which emerged as the community’s highest infrastructure priority, alongside growing concerns around waste services, cost of living pressures and the need to protect valued community facilities and programs.
Importantly, the consultation also highlighted the financial pressures currently being experienced across the community, with more than three quarters of respondents reporting moderate to severe cost of living impacts on their household.
Council said the strong participation rate demonstrates growing community interest in Council decision-making and reinforces the importance of meaningful engagement processes that allow residents to help shape future priorities.
The consultation also identified broad support for maintaining essential services and community facilities, while encouraging Council to continue exploring smarter, more sustainable ways of delivering services into the future — including greater operational efficiency, targeted user-pays approaches where appropriate, grants, partnerships and alternative revenue opportunities.
The report also acknowledges differing priorities across communities, particularly in remote areas, and identifies opportunities for Council to improve engagement and representation in future consultation processes.
The 2026–27 Budget Consultation Community Insights Report will now help inform Council’s final budget deliberations and future strategic planning.
Residents can read the full report here: 2026-27 Budget Consultation Insights
The full agenda and business papers from this week’s Ordinary Council Meeting are also available online.