Most Perth councils aiming to implement annual rate hikes despite cost-of-living concerns
Analysis by The Sunday Times found most metropolitan councils are aiming for an uplift of between 3.5 and 4.5 per cent when the next financial year begins in July.
Some – such as the City of Canning – are proposing rates will jump as much as 6.85 per cent.
The WA Local Government Association was at pains this week to point out that local governments across WA have very different needs when it comes to spending, so it stands to reason that their annual slug of ratepayers will differ too.
'Local Governments across Western Australia all have different expenditure profiles, based on their geographical size, communities and assets and it is important local governments take into account their own circumstances when considering cost pressures,' a spokesperson said.
WALGA calculated industry costs increased 3.2 per cent last year, which represents the price rises councils face just to continue business as usual.
In April – about the time councils were getting into the nitty gritty of their spending budgets for the next year – the figure was forecast to continue to inflate at an even slightly higher rate.
Known as the Local Government Consumer Index, it sets the benchmark for where councils need to start when deciding where to set rates to avoid their own case of bill shock.
'(It) measures price changes of goods that represent categories of expenditure of Local Governments across Western Australia,' a WALGA spokesperson said. 'The LGCI is calculated and compiled by WALGA each quarter to assist local governments in decision making, particularly around budgeting and financials.
'This analysis provides important information to Local Government leaders in understanding and responding to a changing economy and its impacts on the Local Government sector in the Western Australian context.'
Only the City of Perth, which relies less on residential rates to underpin its income stream, so far is proposing a rise lowed than the LGCI – and even that is being advertised at 3.1 per cent.
The City of Canning has long been one of Perth's cheapest for rates but this year finds itself grappling with what could be the highest rates rise in 2025-26 for the entire metropolitan area, currently advertised at 6.85 per cent.
Canning mayor Patrick Hall promised the council and its business leaders would work hard behind the scenes in coming weeks to lower the figure and provide some relief for ratepayers.
'The city and its executive have assured us they will use every lever at their disposal to ensure that the rate that we settle on will be — we would hope — significantly lower than the 6.8 being advertised, and that will be the intention,' he said.
'We are a low rating council, but that is not a badge of honour for a council.
'We need to be providing a sustainable level of investment in all the things that make up a big council, and we are a big council.
'Our population is growing and people's expectations grow with that. We need to be able to invest in maintaining the assets we have and providing the lifestyle and amenity not only demand but that they deserve.
'We have spent an incredible amount of money in new parks and playgrounds and that sort of amenity that really improves the lifestyle of young families.'
In the City of Nedlands, one of the costs outlined in their 4.8 per cent proposed rise is to pay for an IT upgrade of the city's software and network infrastructure.
The council explained that alone was worth about 2 per cent of the rise, with the remainder effectively to meet the LGCI.
It left some on the council, which threw around figures as high as 5.4 per cent, questioning whether there would be enough money in the budget to pay for some of the projects expected in the local community.
Meanwhile cost-of-living concerns moved one south of river council to find different help for individuals who will struggle with the coming rates impost.
The City of Rockingham won't shy from a rates rise this year but it has introduced interest-free bill smoothing, meaning their locals won't be charged any more to pay by weekly instalments.
Most councils charge at least 5.5 per cent for that privilege, yet a handful offer it free.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AU Financial Review
16 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
WA courting Asian investors to pick up abandoned BP hydrogen stake
The Western Australian government is working to entice major Japanese companies to invest in a massive renewable energy project in the Pilbara after BP controversially pulled out of the $50 billion green hydrogen facility. Senior WA government sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity to reveal details of sensitive talks, said the government had reached out to several international energy giants in a bid to salvage the project after BP's departure in July.
West Australian
7 days ago
- West Australian
CME WA picks BHP iron ore boss Tim Day to take over presidency from outgoing Rio Tinto iron boss Simon Trott
BHP's Tim Day has succeeded London-bound Simon Trott as the new president of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA. Mr Day, BHP WA iron ore asset president, has taken the reins from Mr Trott — who has stepped down from the role at the mining lobby group a fortnight before he formally starts his new job as Rio Tinto's chief executive. Mr Trott and Mr Day spent the 2025 financial year as rivals — both were in charge of the Pilbara iron ore mines that generate the majority of profit for BHP and Rio. The two mining giants are by far the two largest iron ore producers in Australia. Hancock Prospecting chief executive Sanjiv Manchanda was also believed to be a contender. Mr Manchanda, who has been a key lieutenant of Gina Rinehart for two decades, is currently a vice president at CME along with Northern Star Resources founder Bill Beament. 'I'm honoured to take on the role of CME President at a time of great opportunity for Western Australian resources,' Mr Day said. 'The mining and energy sectors here in WA are leading the world through operational excellence, innovation and technology. As the biggest employer in the state, we provide jobs across our operations from the Pilbara to the Goldfields, and the South West to the Kimberley. Our impact is felt around Australia and the world. 'I look forward to working with the executive council and our members to support the continued growth and global leadership of WA's resources sector.' Mr Day has been the chief of BHP's most lucrative division since February last year. Mr Trott was appointed to the CME presidency in April last year while serving as the chief of Rio's WA iron ore division. CME chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson, who is also London bound, welcomed Mr Day to the role. 'Tim's involvement with CME on our Advisory Board and Executive Committee has highlighted his experience and knowledge as a leader in the mining and resources sector,' Ms Tomkinson said. 'He takes on the presidency at a time of great opportunity but also challenges for the sector. It's a highly pivotal leadership role and one that's instrumental in holding policy makers to account on behalf of industry.' Ms Tomkinson is set to leave her post at CME next month to be the State Government's new trade ambassador in the United Kingdom. She paid tribute to a fellow inbound Londoner. 'Simon is one of Australia's leading resources executives and has played a significant role shaping WA's world-leading iron ore sector,' Ms Tomkinson said. 'His vision and leadership have been invaluable assets to CME for the entire time he has served on the advisory board, and particularly during his tenure as president.' Mr Trott was promoted to the top job at Rio in May, taking over from Danish native Jakob Stausholm.
West Australian
08-08-2025
- West Australian
Baldivis police station celebrates official opening, hailed as ‘best in the country'
Perth's newest police station in Baldivis has been hailed as the 'best police station in the country' after a lengthy process to find its location. The facility, which was officially opened on Friday morning, cost $26.7 million to build. While it has been operating since late July, Premier Roger Cook, Police Minister Reece Whitby and WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch were in attendance to officially unveil the building on Friday. It will operate as a 24/7 station with a workforce of 40 full-time staff and the capacity to hold up to 100 full-time equivalent workers. The Baldivis police station was first promised by Labor in 2021 in the lead up to the State election, with the pledge of $19 million to build a facility that could facilitate 40 officers. Mr Whitby said that after initial issues finding land for the facility, the build was quick. 'We've copped a bit of flak from the local community saying we haven't even made the start on it yet but, of course, the land was the challenge and once that had been secured, the construction was relatively swift,' he said. 'It's delivered an amazing asset for our community, it's going to be here for decades and decades to come, future generations of people living here, officers working here. 'In 100 years possibly this could be still the Baldivis police station serving the community.' Mr Whitby argued that it was the police station in Australia. 'This is one of the, and I argue it is, the best police station in the country, it's the most modern,' he said. Mr Cook said the station would service a fast-growing community. 'Baldivis is one of the fastest growing areas of the metropolitan area, so the opportunity to be able to construct and commission a police station down here is welcomed by the local community,' he said. 'This new state of the art facility will have all the most recent developments that we expect to see in a modern police station and ultimately could house up to 100 FTE to ensure that we continue to keep the Western Australian communities and the people of Baldivis safe.'
