REDLAND City Council has unanimously supported a proposal by Cr Wendy Boglary to hold a financial sustainability workshop, as councillors acknowledged the mounting pressures of rising debt, aging infrastructure, and constrained resources.
The move comes after Cr Boglary revised her original notice of motion – which had called for a comprehensive financial review – following feedback from councillors and advice from the CEO.
Instead, councillors agreed to hold a dedicated workshop aimed at better understanding the city’s long-term financial challenges and future budget risks.
Cr Boglary said that while the motion had been altered, the intent remained the same.
“With the economic constraints we’re facing, major project commitments, and aging infrastructure across the city, I believe it’s imperative we do this work,” she told the general meeting last Wednesday.
“If the majority of councillors are comfortable with a workshop format, then I’m happy to support that. We need to make informed, strategic decisions to reduce risk and ensure we deliver for the community.”
The workshop will give councillors the opportunity to explore how Council aligns future expenditure with revenue, manages debt, prioritises infrastructure projects, and plans for sustainability under tightening financial conditions.
Cr Jason Colley thanked Cr Boglary for collaborating with councillors to bring forward a practical solution.
“This is about acknowledging the significant challenges we face and making sure we take financial responsibility for the capital projects and infrastructure renewal that lie ahead,” he said.
Cr Paul Bishop, who seconded the motion, said the recent difficult budget process highlighted the need for clear-eyed planning.
“We need to assess our ambitious corporate plan through the lens of viability,” he said.
“We have to be realistic about what we can afford to deliver and ensure our priorities are in line with our community’s expectations.”
Cr Peter Mitchell warned that the Council could not continue to operate at a deficit.
“Despite everyone’s best efforts, we’re heading towards a $12 million deficit,” he said.
“We’ll need to have hard conversations about service cuts, new revenue streams, and the real cost of some of our long-term commitments. Financial sustainability is not just about cutting back – it’s about ensuring we can still deliver what our community needs.”
Cr Paul Golle said the workshop would help identify where Council may be able to shift or divest services currently maintained at ratepayer expense.
“We need to start asking, what are we holding onto that could be transferred to another organisation to deliver more efficiently?”
Cr Boglary declined to specify the exact length of the workshop, saying she trusted that councillors and officers would assess what was needed.
“If we start with a half-day and it’s not enough, we can schedule another. The important thing is that we make the most of the time and not waste resources,” she said.
Mayor Jos Mitchell welcomed the shift towards collaborative financial planning and said the workshop would help shape future budget processes.
“We must take a hard look at what’s on the books in terms of long-term project delivery and the impact that will have on rates and services,” she said. “This is a critical first step in building a more sustainable and transparent budget process for our city.”
