City of Mandurah council approves 2017/18 budget, 1.9 per cent rates increase

The increase has been labelled by councillor Fred Riebeling as the lowest in almost two decades, placing the City of Mandurah among the councils with the lowest rate hikes in the metro area.

It is estimated that the increase will bring an additional $1.5 million dollars to the City of Mandurah, contributing towards to the $2.4 million increase in rate revenue for the financial year.

Council rates account for approximately 70 per cent of the City’s operating revenues.

This year’s biggest rate increases have been at the City of Bayswater with a 4.95 per cent hike, followed by a 3.5 per cent in Victoria Park and 3 per cent in Rockingham, Nedlands and South Perth.

The City of Mandurah said one of the reasons behind this year’s modest rate increase was the success of their new waste management contract, which saved the council $2.2 million. 

The new contract has also allowed the City to return to a full user-pays model of charging for waste management instead of a cross subsidy system.

Before, residents were charged a waste management fee based only on the direct costs of collecting household waste, while other waste services were included in their rates.

In the new system, residents will pay for the service in full.

“This has provided a significant offset to the increases in operating expenditure primarily attributable to the opening of the new Lakelands Library and Community Centre and the City’s Enterprise Agreement,” City of Mandurah manager of financial services David Prattent wrote in a report.

Mr Prattent also said the 2017/18 budget was estimating an operating surplus before depreciation of approximately $16.5 million, also a modest improvement from last year’s budget.

However, the final budget position for the City shows a deficit of $350,000. 

Despite having a significantly reduced capital program for 2017/18 compared to last year’s, the City of Mandurah will be delivering 13 major projects including the installation of CCTV system in various locations, the establishment of the Lakelands Library and the upgrade of the Port Bouvard Surf Lifesaving Club.

The City will also upgrade the Dower Street and Coolibah Street intersection, Gibson Street, Lakes Road and additional sections of Pinjarra Road.

The Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre is also set to get a $317,000 carpark makeover while the eastern foreshore will see a $467,000 boardwalk renewal. 

The City will also spend $306,000 improving parking and pedestrian access to the Marina, and $868,000 to upgrade the Falcon Bay and Novara foreshore areas.

$503,000 have also been allocated towards ablution facilities in the area.

For more information about the City of Mandurah’s 2017/18 budget go to their website.