Rate hike hits Brisbane residents: Search for your suburb

Updated June 17, 2026 — 1:08pm,first published June 17, 2026 — 7:35am

Brisbane City Council has made a pitch for billions in state and federal funding to repair the ageing Story Bridge as it hikes rates for residents.

The average owner-occupier will pay about $1.22 more a week – or about $60 a year – under the 3.97 per cent rate increase.

But the average rate hike for owner-occupiers is below inflation, and leaves rates lower than in other south-east Queensland local government areas.

Handing down the budget on Wednesday, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner called for an 80-10-10 funding split with the state and federal governments to fix the bridge.

The 20-year renewal program is expected to cost $3.6 billion – equivalent to the cost of the new Olympic Stadium proposed for Victoria Park.

“I’m really confident we will get state and federal support for this,” Schrinner said, adding he had spoken to Premier David Crisafulli in recent days.

“I am very confident that the state and federal government will come to the table.

A 21-page Story Bridge Renewal Progress Update released on Tuesday said a business case for the full project was 80 per cent completed.

It recommends replacing ageing concrete and fittings, strengthening the concrete structure on the southern approach, steel repairs, removing lead paint and recoating the main span.

Access upgrades include the main span gantries and top access walkway, anti-climb upgrades, service upgrades including fire, electrical, security and lighting and bearing upgrades before 2032.

The council seeks $1.35 billion over the next six years, asking for $1.08 billion from the federal government, $135 million from the state government and committing $135 million itself.

The Story Bridge’s footpaths were closed in March 2025, and a report later released publicly said they posed a risk of concrete chunks falling off.

Without the renewal project, heavy vehicles and public transport would be removed from the Story Bridge within 10 years and the bridge closed and deconstructed by 2046, the report said.

The council budget has a projected operating surplus of $196 million, with a reduction in net debt. The local government will not borrow any additional money over the next year.

“These are not ordinary times,” Schrinner told the council chamber on Wednesday as he handed down the 2026-27 budget.

No large new projects were announced, with the focus on the Story Bridge.

He described the $3.9 billion budget as centred on cost-of-living, highlighting about $76.5 million in programs – most of which already existed, but in some