The City of Cockburn’s 2022-23 Budget has been adopted by Council, with Cockburn households continuing to pay some of the lowest rates in Perth and the southern metropolitan area despite high inflationary pressures experienced across Western Australia and the nation.
Cockburn is a low-debt council and has delivered a balanced budget for the 13th consecutive year. It is one of only three Perth metropolitan local governments with an operating surplus, enabling the City to keep rates low while continuing to provide new community facilities and replace ageing assets.
Mayor Logan Howlett said the Budget, adopted at a Special Council Meeting on 23 June, was designed to minimise the impacts of current high inflation, interest rates and construction costs combined with a tight labour market.
“The City has done as much as it can to minimise rate increases this year, keeping rates below the Perth Cost Price Index (CPI) which was 7.6 per cent in March 2022,” Mayor Howlett said.
The Budget incorporates a conservative increase in the rate in the dollar of 3 per cent for all Cockburn properties, equating to an average residential improved rate of $1,673.
“The rate rise also takes into account Cockburn’s growing population, set to reach approximately 165,000 by 2040,” Mayor Howlett said.
“While the number of ratepayers increase, the City needs to build and maintain more high quality infrastructure and amenities for our residents and find additional resources to achieve this.”
The City will spend $50m on improvement projects in 2022-23 including the Stage Two duplication of Hammond Road, renewal of park and playground infrastructure and resurfacing roads.
In a further sensible response to current market conditions, the City has delayed several projects.
“The cost of capital works is coming in from 25 to 50 per cent higher than previous estimates, substantially increasing costs,” Mayor Howlett said.
“Delaying or deferring projects until market conditions become more favourable is financially prudent when managing ratepayer-funded projects.
“In 2022-23, the City will donate more than $1.4m to the community through grants and donations and continue to offer numerous free community events such as the vibrant Coogee Live event and the annual community concert.
“We will continue to maintain our 330 parks, 28 sporting reserves and 214 playgrounds, care for 38,500 park and verge trees, 921km of road, 845km of footpaths and ensure the upkeep of 140 facilities, including the award-winning Cockburn ARC, the amazing new Treeby and Frankland Park sport and community facilities, our expanded Port Coogee Marina and the eco-shark barrier at Coogee Beach.
“We will continue to offer one of the best waste collection services in WA, including six annual trailer passes to Henderson Waste Recovery Park, and CoSafe will continue to offer a responsive safety and security service to our community.”
The City has removed the remaining 50 per cent of the COVID-19 concession, in line with State and Commonwealth government removal of other pandemic stimulus programs.
A range of rate payments option are available to ratepayers, including Smart Rates which enable weekly, fortnightly or four-weekly cost-effective direct debit payments. Free financial counselling is available to individuals, families and businesses facing financial difficulties.
Budget highlights:
- Hammond Road duplication Stage 2 - $11.2m
- Road resurfacing and rehabilitation - $2.81m
- Park upgrades & new park infrastructure - $1.32m
- New & upgraded bike and walking paths - $1.21m
- Urban Forest Plan (shade cover in Cockburn) & streetscapes - $1.1m
- 14 Playground renewals - $492k
- Parking upgrades at Cockburn ARC - $478k
- Resident group projects - $435k
For more information visit the City's
website.