Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor Tom Sharp has welcomed the Queensland Government’s proposed depreciation reforms but says infrastructure replacement costs remain a significant challenge for the region.
The Government’s response to the Depreciation Taskforce report outlines changes aimed at improving council financial sustainability, with greater emphasis on cash flow, asset condition and long-term planning.
Three priority reforms are expected to be completed by May 1, 2027, with further changes to follow.
Cr Sharp welcomed the Government’s response but said more detail was needed to understand its implications for councils.
“It’s something that they addressed with local government leading into the election,” he said.
“So they’ve actually delivered on that promise, which we’re grateful for.”
Cr Sharp said maintaining existing infrastructure remained a major challenge for Council.
“Bridges are obviously a very challenging segment of our infrastructure in terms of replacement of old wooden bridges for new cement bridges,” he said.
He also raised concerns about State Government caps on developer contributions towards trunk infrastructure, which he said were insufficient to cover growing costs.
“We’re finding that the cost of the trunk infrastructure is far greater than that,” he said.
“And so the number one priority is how is that shortfall going to be funded into the future?”
Scenic Rim MP Jon Krause said the reforms would help councils make more informed infrastructure decisions.
“These reforms are a positive step for councils like Scenic Rim, which are managing significant infrastructure networks across a large regional area,” he said.
“By focusing more on practical measures such as cash flow, asset condition and long-term planning, councils will be better equipped to make informed decisions about maintaining and investing in local infrastructure.”
Mr Krause said the reforms recognised the different circumstances facing regional councils.
“Scenic Rim has some unique challenges, and so a one size fits all approach just doesn’t work here,” he said.
The Government’s response also aims to strengthen financial reporting and asset management practices across Queensland councils.
