2014-01-13 Item 6.3 Appendices 1-5

2           Existing Council profile
Table 4 sets out selected demographics of the amalgamating local governments in 2008 and the
current profile for SCRC.

TABLE 4 - OVERVIEW
                                                                               14 March 2008                          2012
                                                       Maroochy           Caloundra            Noosa               Existing
                                                           Shire              Shire             Shire      Total   Council
                                      2
Area covered by region (km )                                1,163               1,094            869      3,126      3,126
Population in region #                                   149,051              92,419           48,556   290,026    316,858
No. of rateable properties in region                       68,408             44,020           28,654   141,082    152,532

No. of voters in region                                    96,020             60,110           31,585   187,715    211,195
Councillors                                                      13                 11            10        34         13
Number of staff                                             1,182                 741            500      2,423      1,939

# Census 2006 data used for 14 March 2008 figures and Census 2011 data used for 2012 figures


Key observations since amalgamation:
 Staff numbers have reduced notably since amalgamation in March 2008, with 380
  employees transferring to Unitywater, the water and sewerage business owned by SCRC and
  Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC). A further 20 staff were transferred upon SCRC’s
  divestment of Maroochy Childcare.
 Rateable properties have grown by a modest 7.6 per cent over the last four years. The
  region has experienced a downturn in population growth in recent years.
 Upon amalgamation, the number of councillors reduced from 34 to 13.


2.1         Regionally significant assets and services

2.1.1 Water and sewerage/wastewater

SCRC currently holds a 41.76 per cent interest in Unitywater, the statutory authority
established to own and operate the water and sewerage distribution infrastructure of SCRC and
MBRC. MBRC owns the remaining 58.24 per cent of Unitywater. In addition to this equity
holding, the owners have also lent money to Unitywater through participating shareholder
loans with SCRC loans valued at $497.1 million.

SCRC and MBRC derive returns from their investment in Unitywater by way of interest
payments on shareholder loans and the payment of dividends and tax equivalents associated
with their equity interest.

Unitywater returns are forecast to decrease from 1 July 2013 based on reduced interest income
from shareholder loans after rate resetting, and reduced dividends due to the revised treatment
of contributed assets within the context of full cost pricing.



De-amalgamation Analysis of Sunshine Coast Regional Council                                                          Page 9