The City of Cockburn’s 2020-21 budget has been adopted by Council, with Cockburn households continuing to pay some of the lowest rates in Perth, despite economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cockburn’s average residential improved rate of $1,584 for 2020-21 is the lowest among neighbouring councils.
It remains the same as last year, after Council adopted a zero percentage average rate rise as part of measures to help the community deal with repercussions of COVID-19, in line with State Government calls to freeze rates, fees and charges.
“The one-off COVID-19 concession ensures no ratepayer will pay more in rates for 2020-21 (on a like for like basis) than in 2019-20, when the rate was also the lowest among neighbouring councils,” Mayor Logan Howlett said.
“The one-off rates concession has helped balance the State Government’s implementation of the Gross Rental revaluation by Landgate, which happens every three years.”
All City-determined fees and charges will remain the same as 2019-20, with the City’s Waste Services charge for commercial and industrial property staying at $458 for a fifth consecutive year.
The mandatory waste service charge for commercial/industrial properties that do not use the waste service provided by the City, has been removed for 2020-21.
“The pension rebate cap of $750 (first applied in 2016-17) will remain the same along with the Seniors rebate, capped at $100,” Mayor Howlett said.
2020-21 will be the twelfth year the City has delivered an operating surplus result, a primary indicator of financial health and performance, with a small closing surplus of $38,911 representing a balanced budget.
For the second year, community resident groups were invited to submit projects for consideration in the budget process and 20 projects valued at $400,000 have been included in this year’s budget, an increase on last year’s $357,000 commitment.
Rates collected this year will total $107.77m with a capital budget of $51.22m, including roads, drainage, parks and community infrastructure.
The impact of COVID-19 on the City’s budget exceeds $6m, including $2.15m from the zero rate increase, and $1.73m from the rates concession.
Budget highlights include:
Major building and facility construction projects including –
- Frankland Park at $7.72m (total $9.6m)
- Malabar Park BMX in Bibra Lake at $1.66m (total $3.25m)
- Treeby Community Centre at $3.1m (total $4.55m)
- Upgrading Goodchild Park in Hamilton Hill at $0.8m
- Stage 2 of the Operation Centre at $2.2m
- Cockburn Coast Oval (McTaggart Cove Road) will be constructed for $1.5m based on land purchased from Development WA for $9.43m (settlement date in 2025-26)
Parks and Environment Construction Program totaling $6m including –
- New park developments plus a range of other projects covering greening plans, natural area improvements, playground renewals and 7 new projects under the City’s Shade Sail Strategy
Numerous major road projects including –
- $0.9m for blackspot work at the corner of Farrington Road and North Lake Road
- Construction of a roundabout at Rockingham Road and Phoenix Road ($1.17m)
- Resurfacing projects $1.11m
- Traffic Management initiatives $0.7m
- Footpath (new and rehabilitation) $2.25m
- Drainage and sump projects $0.84m
- A $2m contribution towards the Karel Avenue upgrade being delivered by Main Roads WA – total project cost of $5.5m (with part funding of $2.5m from Jandakot Airport Holdings over 5 years)
- Stage 1 works at Henderson Waste and Recovery Park including bulk earthworks/relocation of Dalison Road/services at a cost of $3m funded in full from the Waste Reserve.
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