Where your rates and charges go

Your rates and charges help fund the everyday services and infrastructure that keep the Fraser Coast running — from the roads you drive on and the water you drink to the parks and community spaces you enjoy.

Every dollar helps maintain what we have today and plan for a growing region into the future.

Your rates and charges go towards:

Keeping roads safe and smooth
Maintaining local roads, footpaths, drainage and bridges so you can get where you need to go.
Collecting and managing waste
Weekly bin collections, recycling and running waste facilities across the region.
Delivering water and sewerage services
Providing safe drinking water, treating wastewater and maintaining essential underground infrastructure.
Looking after parks, beaches and public spaces
Mowing, playgrounds, public toilets, foreshores and the places people use every day.
Running community facilities and programs
Libraries, community spaces, sport and recreation facilities, and cultural venues.
Planning, safety and local services
Development approvals, animal management, local laws and helping residents access Council services.

What your rates don’t cover

Many of the issues people raise with Council are actually the responsibility of other levels of government.

The Queensland Government is responsible for:

Public housing and homelessness services
Hospitals and the public health system
Police and emergency services
Public schools and education
Major roads and highways
Child protection and youth justice

While Council may support local initiatives or advocate on behalf of the community, we do not fund or control these services.

The Australian Government is responsible for:

Centrelink and income support
Medicare and aged care funding
Immigration and border control
Defence and national security
Taxation and economic policy
Funding for major national infrastructure

What Council is responsible for:

Council focuses on local services and infrastructure that directly impact your day-to-day life, including:

Local roads and footpaths
Water, sewerage, waste and recycling services
Parks, playgrounds and public spaces
Libraries and community facilities
Local planning and development
Animal management and local laws

Frequently asked questions

Why do my rates go up each year?

Like households, Council faces rising costs for materials, services and infrastructure.

At the same time, our region is growing, which increases demand for roads, water, parks and waste services.

Significant cost increases in areas like construction and maintenance, alongside reduced funding from other levels of government, continue to place pressure on Council’s budget.

Council actively works to balance these rising costs while maintaining services and planning for future growth.

Do my rates only pay for roads and rubbish?

No. Your rates also support things like:

parks and playgrounds
libraries and community spaces
drainage and flood management
planning and development
animal management and local laws

Why are rates based on land value?

Land valuations are set by the Queensland Government’s State Valuation Service, and councils are required under state legislation to use these valuations to calculate rates.

Using land value provides a consistent way to share the cost of local services across the community.

Council then applies its rating system to determine how much each property contributes.

Do I pay for services I don’t use?

Rates fund services for the whole community.

Even if you don’t use every service directly, you still benefit from things like safe roads, drainage, waste services and well-planned neighbourhoods across the region.

Are my rates paying for major projects?

No single project determines your rates.

Council’s budget covers all services and infrastructure across the region, with major projects funded through a mix of grants, borrowings and revenue.

Why do our rates sometimes look higher than other places?

It’s difficult to compare rates between councils because each area has unique factors, such as population density, land values, and the types of services provided.

Fraser Coast covers a large area with many roads, parks, drainage systems, and community facilities to maintain. However, fewer people live here than in major cities, meaning the costs of providing services are spread across fewer ratepayers.

For example, Fraser Coast has just over 120,000 people spread across 7,125 km², which works out to about 17 people per square kilometre.

In comparison, Brisbane has a much higher population density of just over 1,000 people per square kilometre, which means that the cost of services is shared among more ratepayers.

These differences in population density - along with differences in services included on your rate notice - mean simple comparisons of rates between regions can be misleading.

Want more information?

View Council’s latest Budget information here - https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/budget