2026-27 Budget Consultation Insights
Here’s what you told us.
Cook Shire Council has formally endorsed and published the 2026–27 Budget Consultation Community Insights Report following the May 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting.
The report captures the feedback, priorities and perspectives shared by residents and ratepayers during Council’s most successful budget engagement process to date, with more than 115 responses received from across the Shire through online surveys and in-person community engagement activities.
The consultation was designed to better understand:
- The issues and services most important to the community
- Current cost of living pressures facing households
- Community priorities for improvement and investment
- How residents believe Council should balance affordability, service delivery and long-term financial sustainability
The findings will help inform Council’s ongoing budget planning, financial decision-making and future strategic priorities.
What we heard
The consultation revealed several strong and consistent themes across communities.
Roads, drainage and footpaths emerged as the community’s highest infrastructure priority, while waste services, affordability and cost of living pressures were also raised frequently throughout the engagement.
The report also highlighted the strong value residents place on community facilities and services including parks and public spaces, libraries, community events, the Cooktown Swimming Pool and Nature’s Powerhouse.
Importantly, the consultation showed there is no single community view on rates, fees or affordability. Instead, residents expressed a strong desire for balance — protecting essential services and infrastructure while ensuring Council continues to operate efficiently and responsibly during a period of rising costs.
The engagement also reinforced the importance of meaningful community participation in shaping Council decisions and priorities into the future.
Key Findings at a Glance
- 115 community responses received across the Shire
- 77% of respondents reported moderate to severe cost of living pressure
- Roads, drainage and footpaths identified as the highest priority for improvement
- Parks, libraries and community facilities rated among the services delivering best value
- Strong support for maintaining essential services and community assets
- Growing support for targeted user-pays approaches where appropriate
- Increased interest in transparency, accountability and community engagement
About the Engagement
The 2026–27 Budget Engagement was conducted between February and April 2026 using a combination of:
- Online surveys
- In-person community dotmocracy sessions
- Hard copy feedback submissions
The engagement sought to capture views from across Cook Shire, including Cooktown, Ayton/Bloomfield, Rossville/Helenvale, Coen, Lakeland and rural and remote communities.
While participation was strongest in Cooktown, the report acknowledges opportunities to further improve engagement and representation in remote communities during future consultation processes.
Why this matters
Every year, Council must balance community needs, service expectations, infrastructure demands and financial sustainability within the funding available through rates, grants, fees and charges.
The Budget Consultation Community Insights Report helps ensure community perspectives are considered as part of that process and supports Council’s commitment to transparency and informed decision-making.
Importantly, the report also provides residents with greater visibility into the competing priorities, financial pressures and service delivery challenges involved in developing Council’s annual budget.
Read the Report
The full 2026–27 Budget Consultation Community Insights Report is available below:
Residents can also view the full Ordinary Council Meeting agenda and business papers online.