Needs, Wants And The Weight Of Regional Responsibility

Rates season always sparks conversation — and rightly so. After all, these decisions impact your wallet, your neighbourhood, and your long-term future. This year, the voices of concern have grown louder across the board. Local residents are feeling the strain as household budgets tighten; rural landholders are facing mounting pressure from soaring land valuations; and developers are raising red flags about rising costs and planning roadblocks. Amid the growing unease, Mackay Regional Council has defended its 4.95 per cent general rate rise as one of the lowest in Queensland. A similar increase has also been handed down in the Isaac region.

So who's right? The truth likely sits somewhere in the middle.

The Mackay region is vast — stretching from the cane fields of Calen to the cattle stations of Eungella and the coastal communities of Seaforth and Sarina Beach. Maintaining this network of rural roads, ageing infrastructure, water and waste services, and supporting small outlying communities is no small feat.

The budget has been described as one that digs deep into essential service delivery and asset renewal — prioritising the basics over big-ticket beautification. It’s not a flashy budget, but rather one aimed at “keeping up” with core infrastructure demands across a vast and varied region. With very little financial fat left to trim, the focus remains firmly on maintaining the essentials: roads, water, waste, and community support.

As a mother, I’d love to see more imaginative playgrounds, a more exciting and shaded lagoon, better coastal dining options and a riverfront that lives up to its potential. These are the “wants” — the things that make a city hum with life and pride. But in tough economic times, “needs” take precedence.

And while council has copped the brunt of criticism, perhaps the bigger question is what more the state government could be doing. They collect more revenue from our region than any other tier — yet deliver comparatively little in return.

It's easy to point fingers until you’re the one in the hot seat. Prioritising basics over beauty may not win hearts in the short term, but it's often what keeps the lights on, the water running, and the roads safe.

Amanda

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