Has the region benefited?

The following slides contain information from the Queensland Treasury Corporations Credit Review of Rockhampton Regional Council in October It also contains excerpts from a briefing note prepared by Paul Hoolihan in May 2011 No opinions of other parties are included, the readers are encouraged to form their own. Paul Lancaster Chairperson Capricorn Coast Independence Movement

Our Long Term Debt June $83,600,000 June $195,100,000 June $229,900,000 June $263,300,000 June $279,400,000 June $285,400,000 (Queensland Treasury Corporation October 2011)

Ratepayers Interest on Debt $4.2 million $10.1 million $12.1 million $14.5 million $17.8 million $18.3 million Rateable Properties 2016 – 55,229 (Queensland Treasury Corporation October 2011) Interest per property PA - $ Interest per property PA - $331.00

Net rates and utilities charges are forecast to increase by an average of 9.6 per cent per annum over the three years commencing FY * (Queensland Treasury Corporation October 2011) (approx. 3 times current & forecast cpi) The proposed increases are significantly above CPI estimates and with rates of unemployment higher than the State average, may be beyond the capacity of some ratepayers. (Queensland Treasury Corporation October 2011) (* FY – means Financial Year)

Net Rates & Utilities Charges per Property $2,529 PA $3,485 PA $4,359 PA (Queensland Treasury Corporation October 2011)

Council incurred operating deficits in the combined FY2008/FY2009 period and again in FY2010. Council is also expecting an operating deficit of 13.2 per cent in FY 2011, which is outside Queensland Treasury Corporations benchmark of a deficit no greater than 4 percent of operating revenue. (Queensland Treasury Corporation October 2011) (* FY – means Financial Year)

CARBON TAX LEVY Council intends to introduce a carbon tax levy of $60 per rateable property! (Queensland Treasury Corporation October 2011)

2008 – 09 financial year rates and charges increased by 21.3% Employee numbers have grown by 10% since 2009;- and Employee expenses (salaries etc) have increased by 88.5%; $46,900, $88,400,000 Council s liquidity position has fallen;- Cash cover over expenses (amount of money in bank) months months (Queensland Treasury Corporation October 2011) Already we are benefiting from the advantages of economies of scale (Paul Hoolihan May 2011)

Paul Hoolihan do you and your state government really believe amalgamation has been good for this region?