A REDLANDS councillor has thrown down a direct challenge to residents of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI), asking how much they would be willing to pay as a special levy to fix the islands’ long-standing infrastructure shortfall.
Cr Shane Rendalls says the debate about roads, sewerage, drainage, footpaths and parking must start with a simple financial truth.
“While we’re in dire straits with our infrastructure backlog, there is no money for nothing and the cheques aren’t free,” he said.
The infrastructure gap across the Southern Moreton Bay Islands has been building for decades.
Cr Rendalls estimates it would take about $1.5 billion to fully address the backlog, a figure that is almost 10 times the total capital works budgeted for the city in 2025–26.
Spread across approved residential lots, that equates to roughly $130,000 per property.
While he concedes that is a substantial sum, he argues property values would likely rise by more than that if the islands were serviced with sealed roads, sewerage, drainage, footpaths and adequate parking both on the islands and the mainland.
He has deliberately ruled out discussion of a bridge, saying it would not address the core infrastructure needs and is not something council could undertake.
In Redland City, around 87 per cent of revenue is raised from rates and levies, with no large commercial or mining sector to bolster the budget.
“Unless you’re born into wealth, on a pension or benefit, or are a child there is no money for nothing,” Cr Rendalls said.
“Same with funding infrastructure on SMBI, it either comes from you via the taxes and fees you pay to the federal and state government, or from rates and fees you pay to council.”
However, fellow councillor Julie Talty said it was important to clarify that council was not considering a special infrastructure levy for island residents.
She said the long-term solution should focus on securing greater support from higher levels of government.
“Council has for some years been asking both the Federal and State Governments to recognise the unique history and challenges of the Bay Islands by providing recognition through Regional Status,” she said.
“Were this to be allowed at both levels, funding not currently accessible for provision of infrastructure and services in remote regions would become available to support the provision of improved levels of service.
“This is the fairest and most just way forward for the islands.”
Cr Talty also noted that infrastructure planning must reflect the realities of island living.
“Council prioritises projects across the city based upon need and reasonable levels of service,” she said.
“Moving to an island and expecting to have everything you had on the mainland is not realistic.”
Cr Jason Colley said he did not support the idea of placing additional financial pressure on residents.
“I don’t support — and I’m confident my residents wouldn’t support — additional financial burdens being placed on them to fund the delivery of infrastructure on the islands,” he said.
Cr Wendy Boglary said she had long advocated for a more structured and strategic approach to infrastructure planning for the islands.
“For possibly a decade I have advocated for a masterplan for the delivery of infrastructure for the Southern Moreton Bay Islands,” Cr Boglary said.
“This masterplan should have community feedback as well as all needs, delivery, resource and financial challenges considered to achieve best possible community outcomes.”
She said without such a framework, infrastructure delivery had lacked clear long-term coordination.
“In my opinion without such a masterplan, delivery of infrastructure over the years has not been strategic with all stakeholders understanding challenges and agreeing on critical infrastructure and priorities,” she said.
“What has been delivered seems to be forgotten and not crossing needs off a list.”
Cr Boglary said previous attempts to gain majority council support for a masterplan had been unsuccessful, but she believes the current debate presents an opportunity.
“Unfortunately, over the past terms I have not received the majority of councillors’ support for a masterplan, however, perhaps now is the time for strategic transparent planning of the delivering of community needs for SMBI,” she said.
“City wide would also be financially responsible.”
She said the State Government also needed to take greater responsibility.
“The State Government also needs to step up — a big step — and be responsible in delivering services,” Cr Boglary said.
“Council now being responsible for the ferry transport terminals is a fine example of recent cost shifting.
“The State Government, and community all have to be in these discussions with Council.”
When the islands were subdivided and released in 1971–72, no infrastructure was delivered by the developer and no infrastructure contributions were paid, arrangements that pre-dated the transfer of the islands to Redlands Shire in 1973.
As a result, much of the existing infrastructure has been funded by ratepayers across the broader city.
Even when new projects are grant funded, Cr Rendalls said council must budget for ongoing depreciation and future replacement costs.
“Further, council has to pay twice for new infrastructure,” he said.
“Once in the upfront costs and then through an annualised depreciation schedule so the cash is there to replace the asset at the end of its life.
“So even when something is paid for by a grant, the ratepayer then must make a regular cash payment towards its maintenance and depreciation.
“This is important to understand — money is not free.”
Cr Rendalls also questioned the political reality of expecting mainland residents, who make up about 95 per cent of voters, to support higher general rates to fund infrastructure that would significantly increase island property values.
He outlined what funding the backlog could mean in practice.
If $1.5 billion were borrowed over 20 years, with depreciation accounted for over 50 years and maintenance excluded, it could add about $1,900 a year to rates if spread across all Redlands ratepayers, or around $11,500 a year if funded solely by a SMBI levy.
If capital works were covered by external grants and only depreciation was funded through rates, the additional cost could fall to about $426 per year across the city or about $2,600 under an islands-only levy.
He stressed the figures are highly speculative and that detailed assessment, costings and discussions with state and federal governments would be required to develop an accurate funding model and timeline.
