The proposed charge aims to offset the escalating costs associated with repairing damage inflicted by the cyclone.
Rebuilding these beaches is estimated to cost at least $50 million.
This figure is in addition to expenses incurred from broader clean-up operations, including tree removal and road clearing.
Gold Coast City Council is proposing a “disaster management response and recovery” charge on ratepayer bills to recoup these expenses.
“We’ve got to have a reserve to be able to activate clean up quickly, the skip bins, all those sort of things come at a cost,” Mayor Tom Tate said.
Initiatives are currently in progress to bolster the durability of Gold Coast beaches in anticipation of upcoming weather challenges. Nevertheless, it is reported that the financial resources reserved for disaster recovery are decreasing.
The Gold Coast City Council is scheduled to vote on the final amount for the proposed levy on Friday.
While the federal government is expected to contribute to the recovery effort, its financial commitment remains unconfirmed.
“It could come up higher as I’m getting additional costs where we’ve got to upgrade our other infrastructure” Tate said.
“When we have disaster after disaster, you know, we, we can’t, we can’t wear it, we need help.”
The extent of federal government funding is yet to be determined.
