The publication of the SDRC’s 2024-2025 annual report was celebrated in chambers like it made the New York Times best seller list, no doubt based on the effort that goes into producing it and the importance of the contents.
It isn’t perfect. Out of the debate in chambers last week it appears there may be a couple of errors in accounting or misprints, but overall, it is a slick and well-presented document of how resident’s rates are being spent.
Most of the discussion in the ordinary meeting was self-congratulatory. Oddly, Cr Ross Bartley who voted against adopting the annual report, was the first to raise his hand and compliment the fiscal soundness that the report represented.
“We really performing well financially,” he said, commenting on the low amount of debt and high levels of investment.
Cr Bartley encouraged residents to “read and understand it”.
One aspect of the annual report, which delineates the renumeration of the CEO, general managers and councillors, has drawn some public attention. In compensation paid to this group in 2024 was $1,905,000 million. In 2025 that number had jumped to $3,159,000. Almost $750,000 of that increase was in “termination benefits” with another large jump in short-term employee benefits. The explanation may relate to unfulfilled management roles in 2024. The Town & Country Journal has queried the data and is awaiting response.
Back in chambers, Cr Sarah Deane read off a prepared statement before Cr Russell Wantling asked questions about successful grant applicants.
“I’m not having a crack at art galleries,” he said as he pointed out that their numbers were combined with libraries so it was difficult to detect benchmarks in performance.
Mayor Melissa Hamilton explained that the art galleries are lumped into “facilities” the same as WIRAC and public pools. “All of them have deliverables, but I take your point that” the numbers could be more “visible”.
Cr Joel Richters praised “all the great things we’ve done” but reminded his colleagues that he would like to see “better completion of our corporate plan.”
Mayor Hamilton agreed that while the annual report is “often viewed as boring” and “not sexy”, she stressed that the achievements are solid and the auditors of the numbers are pleased with the results.
Producing an annual report is a requirement under the legislation for all local governments, yet Cr Ross Bartley and Cr Russell Wantling voted against adopting it. The Town & Country Journal asked the SDRC for Cr Bartley's reasoning for his vote but there was no response to that specific question. The paper has also asked Cr Wantling why he voted against the document and await a response. Cr Ross Bartley did not appear in the group photo of the council’s announcement of the report.
The density of information in the 46-page document will take some time to analyse, question and follow up which the Town & Country Journal will do over the next few editions.
Download it at www.sdrc.qld.gov.au or request a printed copy by contacting Council’s Customer Service Centres.
