Somerset Regional Council Highlights – 21 August 2026
Published on 21 August 2026
Somerset swimming pools will open their gates in September.
Master recycling with Recycle Mate
Residents are encouraged to try the new Recycle Mate widget on Somerset Regional Council’s website to discover smarter ways of recycling everyday items.
Somerset Deputy Mayor Helen Brieschke said Recycle Mate pulled together information about waste transfer stations, return-to-store programs and charitable organisations to provide the most up-to-date guidance on sorting waste.
“Recycle Mate helps you discover local options to recycle, reuse, repair and safely dispose of unwanted items,” Cr Brieschke said.
“You can search up any type of item, and Recycle Mate will show you nearby drop-off locations, including Containers for Change sites, battery recyclers and second hand stores.
“Alternatively, it will tell you whether to dispose the item in your red- or yellow-topped bin.”
Try it for yourself, visit somerset.qld.gov.au/Recycling or download the Recycle Mate app on the App Store or Google Play.
Swim season starting September
Somerset Regional Council’s swimming pools will open their gates in September for the 2026-2027 Pool Season.
Lowood Swimming Pool will reopen on Saturday, 5 September.
Kilcoy Aquatic Centre and Toogoolawah Swimming Pool will reopen on Saturday, 19 September.
For more information on Council sporting facilities and opening hours visit somerset.qld.gov.au/Sporting-Facilities
Reminder to register for BOM weather alerts
Somerset Regional Council will discontinue its subscription to the Early Warning Network (EWN) on 31 August 2026.
Residents are encouraged to download the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) Weather App and subscribe to its new national warning service.
Somerset Deputy Mayor Helen Brieschke said the app offered real-time, location based push notifications.
“You can opt to receive alerts for up to three locations, including warnings for floods, severe thunderstorms and other weather events,” Cr Brieschke said.
“The BOM Weather App is a free service, whereas EWN comes at a significant cost to Council and the ratepayer.”
You can download the BOM Weather App from the App Store or Google Play.
For more information visit bom.gov.au
Check your mailbox for August rates notices
Somerset Regional Council’s rates notices for the period ending 31 December 2026 were issued on Tuesday, 18 August 2026.
Payment is due by Tuesday, 29 September 2026.
The August notice includes a free trees voucher, highlights from the 2026–2027 Budget, and the 2026–2027 Rating Category Statement.
Ratepayers can opt to receive future notices by email using the eNotices Reference Number provided on their rates notice.
For information on rates, payment options and the State Government Pensioner Rates Subsidy visit somerset.qld.gov.au/rates
For more information contact Council on 5424 4000 or mail@somerset.qld.gov.au