What
is a Corporate Plan and Why is it Important?
Thriving Place, Open Space, Happy Face
Our vision of Thriving Places, Open Spaces and Happy Faces reflects what makes the Southern Downs feel like home. It speaks to our unique mix of towns and villages, our strong local character, and the value we place on protecting the landscapes we love, while continuing to grow in a thoughtful and sustainable way. It captures the balance between growing our region and preserving what makes it special. It’s about supporting communities where people feel connected, supported and proud to be part of something bigger. Just as importantly, it reflects what you, our community, have told us matters, and gives us a clear direction for how we plan, communicate and invest in the future.
WHAT WE HEARD
Every five years, Council sets the strategic direction for the outcomes we want to achieve for the Southern Downs community.
Mayor Melissa Hamilton and Councillors have spent significant time listening to our community and thinking about what the future of the Southern Downs could look like.
To make sure we truly captured the hopes and aspirations of our region, Council carried out an extensive community engagement program in late 2025 and early 2026. This included a region-wide survey and opportunities for community members across our towns and villages to tell us what mattered most to them.
HERE’S WHAT WE HEARD WAS IMPORTANT TO YOU – view more at haveyoursay.sdrc.qld.gov.au/ corporateplan
This is how you rated the livability of the Southern Downs and your satisfaction with key Council services:
OVERALL LIVEABILITY SCORE: 78% Decisions made in the community’s interests:
and financial management:
STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY OPPORTUNITY THAT EMBRACES OUR UNIQUE IDENTITY
The Corporate Plan underpins everything we do as a Council, to ensure that our region and its communities continue to thrive. It sets our priorities and direction for the next five years. While it’s a requirement of the Queensland Government and follows best practice, it’s grounded in what our community has shared with us. From there, our Operational Plan outlines what we’ll focus on each year, and our annual Budget ensures the right resources are in place to deliver these priorities, so together we can continue shaping the Southern Downs as a place we’re proud to call home. Advocating for the community: 56%
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL LIVES WITHIN ITS MEANS Keeping the community informed:
The Corporate Plan is Council’s key strategic document, setting the goals we will work towards to achieve our vision of thriving places, open spaces and happy faces over the next five years.
Council has confirmed that future planning and investment will be guided by the following principles:
• Maintain before expand
• Reliable before additional
• Affordable before aspirational
• Region before individual
These principles create a consistent and practical framework for setting priorities, supporting longterm sustainability and fair outcomes across the Southern Downs.
To deliver on these goals, Council will continue to strengthen key organisational capabilities, including:
• Asset planning and maintenance systems
• Clear policies and decision-making frameworks
• Workforce capacity and skills
• Financial discipline and reporting
• Partnerships and advocacy
It will be tracked and measured, and acts as a central guide for:
• Prioritising projects
• Budget setting and long-term financial planning
• Advocacy priorities
• Organisational alignment and performance
• Community communication and transparency
It provides a clear and consistent basis for decisionmaking, helping both our teams and the community understand how and why decisions are made.
Together, these capabilities support consistent, evidence-based decisions and help ensure we deliver for our community now and into the future.
RELATIONSHIPS
Council, Community, Connecting
RELIABLE EVERYDAY INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
Delivering the Basics Well
LIVEABLE COMMUNITIES
People Love Living Here
STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY Opportunity That Embraces Our Unique Identity Reliable Everyday Infrastructure and Services Liveable Communities Relationships
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT
Council Lives Within Its Means
Draft 2026 – 2031 Corporate Plan
You told us what matters most, and where you’d like to see Council focus over the next five years.
These priorities reflect your hopes for the future of the Southern Downs and set a clear direction for the work ahead. They will guide how we plan, invest and deliver, as we continue working together to create thriving places, open spaces and happy faces.
RELATIONSHIPS
Council, Community, Connecting
Goal: We will build strong and respectful relationships with our community, partners and stakeholders. We will enhance open communication, actively involve our community in decisions and provide visible leadership that keeps people informed and connected.
RELIABLE EVERYDAY INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
Delivering the Basics Well
Goal: We will get the basics right. We will lift the standard of our everyday infrastructure and services so our community can rely on safe, well-maintained roads, facilities and services that support daily life across the region.
LIVEABLE COMMUNITIES
People Love Living Here
Goal: We will support communities to be connected, safe and accessible. We will ensure that planning is thoughtful and protects our natural environment while enhancing the places where people live, work and come together.
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT
Council Lives Within Its Means
Goal: We will lead with integrity and strong governance. We will make responsible decisions that support long-term financial sustainability, while building a positive, safe and high-performing culture within Council and the community.
STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY
Opportunity That Embraces Our Unique Identity
Goal: We will support a thriving and diverse local economy that builds on the strengths and character of our towns and villages, creating opportunities for local businesses, jobs and sustainable growth.
Draft 2026 – 2027 Operational Plan
Each year of the five-year Corporate Plan will have its own one-year Operational Plan.
As we begin delivering the 2026–2031 Corporate Plan, here’s what we’re planning to focus on from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. This plan turns our long-term direction into practical actions we’ll deliver over the next 12 months. Council will report quarterly on how we are tracking against the Operational Plan – that’s how we’re accountable to you.
RELATIONSHIPS
Council, Community, Connecting
• Deliver a Customer Experience Strategy to make it easier to do business with Council
• Simplify leasing processes to support the responsible use of community land and buildings
• Implement a new Grants Policy to improve transparency around support for events, community groups, businesses and tourism
• Refresh Council’s website to make it simpler and easier to use
• Develop and launch a public dashboard so the community can see how Council is performing
• Support our community to be better prepared for natural disasters
RELIABLE EVERYDAY INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
Delivering the Basics Well
LIVEABLE COMMUNITIES
People Love Living Here
• Develop and implement a new Waste Strategy
• Enter into a new waste collection contract to deliver reliable waste services
• Deliver at least 80% of Council’s capital works program
• Deliver Council’s maintenance program for sealed and unsealed roads
• Improve water efficiency by tracking and reducing water losses
• Increase water security by restoring service reservoirs at Hawker Road and Kenilworth Street to provide 12ML of storage
• Analysis and design for additional water storage for Stanthorpe
• Renew and maintain footpaths and kerbs across the region
• Work with community groups to plan and deliver local civic and community events
• Increase animal management compliance to support responsible pet ownership and community safety, including completing an approved inspection program
• Implement the new Planning Scheme and move it online, making it easier to find information and submit applications
• Develop a growth management strategy to support future housing while protecting what we love about our region
• Improve how Council maintains parks and open spaces
• Plan to better connect our footpaths and cycleways
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT
Council Lives Within Its Means
STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY
Opportunity That Embraces Our Unique Identity
• Deliver a Financial Sustainability Strategy to ensure the best use of community funds and maintain strong financial reserves
• Review procurement processes to identify opportunities to streamline and improve efficiency
• Develop and implement an integrated risk framework
• Review and update Council’s Local Laws in line with best practice
• Strengthen Council’s cyber security protocols
• Deliver the refreshed Economic Development Strategy
• Continue to support our tourism sector through a new Tourism Strategy
• Implement an Event Strategy to attract new events to the region
Draft 2026 – 2027 Budget
Learn how your rates are being invested across the region to create thriving places and open spaces. This budget shows how we’re using community funds to deliver services, projects and infrastructure that support everyday life across the Southern Downs.
RELATIONSHIPS
Council, Community, Connecting
Council will spend over $500,000 on these key projects:
• Deliver a customer service experience that makes it easier to do business with council
• Rollout of the new Grants Policy to improve transparency and support for community groups
• Simplify leasing processes to suppor t responsible use of community land and buildings
• Support our community to be better prepared for natural disasters
RELIABLE EVERYDAY INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
Delivering the Basics Well Council will spend $40.7M on these key projects:
• Upgrade of water and sewerage equipment in Warwick, including treatment plant filters and trade waste upgrade
• Re-sheeting of unsealed roads across the region
• Renewal of water mains in Warwick, Allora, Pratten, Leyburn, Stanthorpe, Dalveen, Killarney and Wallangarra
• Upgrade water treatment process in Stanthorpe
• Renewal of aging recycled water mains to make the most of our most valuable resource
• Upgrade UV treatment systems in Dalveen and Pratten
• Dam safety upgrades to Connolly and Storm King Dams
• Enter a new waste collection contract to deliver reliable waste services
• Repair and re-seal various roads, upgrade culverts and floodways throughout the region, ensuring safety for users
• Design and construction of the new Cox Bridge on Victoria Street in Warwick
• Upgrades to WIRAC to ensure safety and a good experience for centre customers
• Sealing of bitumen roads to maintain safety and accessibility
LIVEABLE COMMUNITIES
People Love Living Here
Council will spend $1.7M on these key projects:
• Build Rosehill Road pathway
• Connecting more footpaths
• Design of modern playgrounds and increasing the amount of shade over playgrounds
• Accessibility improvements to the Allora Pool for people with disabilities
• Increased spending to enhance our parks and open spaces
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT
Council Lives Within Its Means
Council will spend over $250,000 on these key projects:
• Deliver a Financial Sustainability strategy to ensure best use of community funds and strong financial reserves
• Deliver an integrated risk framework
• Review and renew Council’s Local Laws to ensure Council is using best practice
• Increase cyber security and upgrade ICT systems
STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY
Opportunity That Embraces Our Unique Identity
Council will spend $355,000 on these key projects:
• Deliver the refreshed Economic Development strategy
• Implement the Events Strategy to attract new events to our region
• Deliver new 3-year industry association funding agreements
• Support new product development in the tourism industry
HOW COUNCIL SPENDS EVERY $100
This Year ’ s Proposed Rate Changes
Council is committed to spending your rate dollars wisely. We recognise the impact rising costs are having across our community, and Council is also facing increased costs for goods, services and construction.
Rates help fund the roads we drive on, the beautiful parks and open spaces we enjoy, and the services and facilities our community relies on every day They also support the ongoing maintenance and renewal of existing facilities to ensure they remain safe, reliable and fit-for-purpose.
COUNCIL’S RISING COSTS
While the cost of products for residents in the Southern Downs is impacted by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a separate higher pricing mechanism applies to local governments The Local Government Cost Index (LGI) is determined by the price of products for Council, which is typically 1% higher than the Brisbane CPI.
Residents often ask why their rates bills are higher here than in South East Queensland or Toowoomba. This is because Southern Downs Regional Council is servicing a much larger geographic area in terms of roads, waste, water and other essential services, whilst receiving revenue from a significantly smaller population base. The graph below shows the difference between the distance of roads maintained by several councils.
RATE CHANGES
To ensure Council lives within its means and delivers the basics well, Council is proposing a budget with the following increases. Capping will still apply to those properties that had a category change in the 2024-2025 full rates review.
Council is also proposing to introduce a new rating category for properties that are not a person’s principal place of residence
The new non-principal place of residence rates category will apply to holiday homes, rental properties and other situations where the property owner does not reside at the property, with the majority paying an additional $5.90 – $9.50 a week. Businesses with a residence will not be impacted by this new rating category.
The median rate increases for our most common categories are:
Principle Place of Residence Rate Increase: – Median 3.5% Increase
$1.00 - $4.80 pw
Non-Primary Place of Residence General Rate
$5.90 - $9.50 pw
Primary Production Properties General Rate – Median 5.3% Increase
Non-Residential Properties General Rate – Median 5.6% Increase
We would love for you to provide feedback on the draft 2026–2031 Corporate Plan and FY27 Budget for the Southern Downs. Consultation on both documents will be open from Monday 20 April to Friday 1 May 2026.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR FEEDBACK:
There are plenty of ways to get involved and have your say on the draft 2026–2031 Corporate Plan and FY27 Budget including online, in-person or by hardcopy.
Please submit your feedback between Monday 20 April 2026 and midnight Friday 1 May 2026, and be sure to:
• Clearly state your feedback, concerns, or suggestions
• Include your name and contact details
Submit your feedback online via Submission Form or Survey:
Visit haveyoursay.sdrc.qld.gov.au/ corporateplanandbudget to access the online draft 2026-2031 Corporate Plan and FY27Budget digital Submission Form or to complete the Survey.
Submit your feedback in-person
You can provide your feedback in-person at one of our Community Information Pop-ups or by speaking directly with Council staff via the information listed on this page or by visiting one of Council’s Admin Buildings in Warwick, Stanthorpe or Allora.
Submit your feedback via hardcopy:
1. Download and print a 2026-2031 Corporate Plan Survey or FY27 Budget Submission Form from our webpage haveyoursay.sdrc.qld.gov.au/ corporateplanandbudget or collect a printed version from one of Council’s Administration Buildings.
2. Fill out and lodge your survey or submission form by Friday 1 May 2026 by either:
a) Emailing to budget@sdrc.qld.gov.au
b) Returning to a Council Administration Building
c) Mailing to Southern Downs Budget / Corporate Plan – PO Box 26, Warwick QLD 4370
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Once submissions close, we will review and consider all feedback received and any relevant amendments would be made to the final 2026-2031 Corporate Plan and FY27 Budget ahead of adoption in mid-2026.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
For more information about the 2026-2031 Corporate Plan or FY27 Budget please contact Council and to find out where Council is hitting the ground across the region:
haveyoursay.sdrc.qld.gov.au/corporateplanandbudget
1300 697 372 (8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday)
budget@sdrc.qld.gov.au
Southern Downs Budget / Corporate Plan PO Box 26, Warwick QLD 4370
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