Rates up 3.97% in 2026-27 Brisbane City Council Budget

By Susan Schwartz

Ratepayers will pay an extra 3.97 percent in rates as part of the Brisbane City Council’s 2026-27 budget which includes a $135 million towards fixing the Story Bridge.

Touted as a “Cost of Living Budget,” Brisbane’s rate rise still makes it the cheapest in south-east Queensland, according to the Brisbane City Council.

The Story Bridge project will rely on a further $1.08 billion from the Federal Government, and $135 million from the State Government over the next six years. The total project will cost $3.6 billion over 20 years.

The Budget also includes a record $110 million road resurfacing program, and $900 million for parks, playgrounds and public areas.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the $3.9 billion budget tackled the cost-of-living because families were feeling the pressure of higher grocery bills, electricity prices, rent and mortgages.

“We have a responsibility to manage our Budget carefully. After all, this is not Council’s money, its residents’ money,” Cr Schrinner said in a statement.

“Our Cost-of-Living Budget provides practical relief for Brisbane residents, while we continue to invest in the infrastructure and services needed to keep Brisbane moving.”

This year the Budget has maintained a $196 million operating surplus as a buffer against unexpected cost increases. It has also reduced net debt, with no new borrowings forecast for the first time in nearly a decade.

Roads:

The Budget’s total $1.9 billion transport and infrastructure investment includes:

1. “Operation Smooth,” a $110 million resurfacing program which includes the southern approach to the Story Bridge, as well as the following roads:

Albion Road (Albion, Windsor)
Lutwyche Road (Lutwyche, Windsor)
Eagle Farm Road (Pinkenba)
Main Avenue (Coorparoo)
Forest Lake Boulevard (Forest Lake)
Mains Road (Sunnybank)
Hamilton Road (Chermside, Wavell Heights)
McCullough Street (Sunnybank)
Moggill Road (Indooroopilly)
Hawken Drive (St Lucia)
Mt Nebo Road (Enoggera)
High Street (Toowong)
Murphy Road (Zillmere)
Inala Avenue (Durack)
South Pine Road (Enoggera)
Ipswich Road (Annerley)
Sylvan Road (Toowong)
Kedron Park Road (Wooloowin)
Toohey Road (Salisbury)
Learoyd Road (Acacia Ridge)
Wilston Road (Grange)
Logan Road (Upper Mt Gravatt).

2. More than $400 million will be invested in upgrading roads, including:

Progressing the Beams Road corridor upgrade
Delivering the Archerfield Road, Azalea Street and Pine Road intersection upgrade in Inala
Upgrading the intersection of Cavendish Road, Holdsworth Street and Kitchener Street in Coorparoo
Delivering a new crossing on Gympie Road, Bald Hills outside Guide Dogs Queensland.

3. The council will invest $213 million to subsidise bus, CityCat, and Brisbane Metro services.

4. More than $3.9 million for Safer School Precincts in Kedron, Mansfield, Wynnum Manly and Indooroopilly.

5. More than $63 million for footpaths and bikeways, including the Minnippi, Prebble Street, Shaftson Avenue and Sylvan Road bikeway projects.

Parks and public spaces:

Nearly $900 million will be invested in Brisbane’s parks, playgrounds and other public areas:

1. More than $117 million will be invested to upgrade parks, including new picnic shelters, barbecues, sports parks, exercise equipment, playgrounds, landscaping, footpaths, lighting and toilets.

Parks receiving upgrades in 2026-27 include:

Keating Park, Indooroopilly
7th Brigade Park, Chermside
Honeyeater Street Park, Upper Kedron
Pallara District Sports Park
The Lake Parklands, Forest Lake
Carindale Recreation Reserve
Dorrington Park, Ashgrove
Regent Park, Cannon Hill
Upper Kedron Recreation Reserve
Teralba Park dog park, Everton Park
Don Randall Park, Lota
Bennelong Park, Kedron
Bill Hewitt Reserve, Camp Hill

2. More than $3 million will be invested to create a new parkland, with a better bikeway and improved drainage along Kingfisher Creek. The Kingfisher Creek corridor runs between Woolloongabba and East Brisbane and is the next stage of the Norman Creek Master Plan, which includes the transformation of Hanlon Park in Stones Corner.

3. Around $980,000 will be invested to progress the Council’s long-term vision for Kedron Brook, including the Brook’s bikeways and lighting.

4. More than $4 million will be invested in projects along Oxley Creek, helping to restore Brisbane’s most urbanised and polluted waterway.

5. Works will continue on the Wynnum, Manly and Lota Foreshore master plan, while the Brighton Foreshore upgrade will continue, delivering new picnic facilities, improved pathways and better beach access.

6. The Budget also continues investment in some of Brisbane’s most iconic outdoor destinations with the release of the long-term vision for Mt Coot-tha this year. Upgrades to existing facilities, including improved parking and landscaping will be delivered in the meantime.

7. More than $61 million for libraries

8. The heritage-listed Brisbane School of Arts Building will be sold because no feasible proposals were received during a recent Expression of Interest process.

Miscellaneous:

The Budget also includes:

A $60 annual on-time rates payment rate discount, saving residents $16.7 million in 26-27
Pensioner rates rebate, with the maximum rebate increasing to $1,350 in 26-27, saving pensioners $29.8 million
A rates establishment fee exemption, which is expected to save First Home Buyers $1.3 million in 26-27
The removal of credit and debit card surcharges from 1 July 2026
$5.6 million for a new ‘Move Well Brisbane’ health and fitness program
The return of the popular $2 Summer Dips program, which helped drive a record 758,000 visits to Brisbane pools this summer
More than $2 million for free off-peak transport for seniors
$532,000 for Brisbane residents who purchase eligible composting and food waste disposal equipment
10 x 100kg free waste vouchers for Brisbane renters and owner-occupiers
Two free native plants for all Brisbane residents
Continuing the city’s free annual kerbside collection service
Options to turn the region’s waste into sustainable aviation fuel will be investigated through the South-East Queensland Council of Mayors
$250,000 a year for the next three years to the Emmanuel City Mission which provides safe spaces and support for homeless and hardship cases.