WA’s City of Busselton Council has adopted the City’s 2025/26 annual budget, which it says has a clear focus on key priorities identified by the community.
With the Council’s vision being ‘Where environment, lifestyle and opportunity thrive’, it says this year’s budget enables delivery of a wide range of projects, activities and services that will continue to enhance, strengthen and support the whole community into the future.
“We have worked hard over the last few months to find ways to keep costs down whilst still investing in enhancing services to meet the needs of our growing population. We have been cognisant of the current cost of living pressures, and our Council certainly took community feedback on board when adopting this budget,” said Mayor, Phill Cronin.
“The Council has been listening to the community and we have allocated funds to support the highest priorities identified by the community last year. Development of future sport and recreational facilities was certainly a top community priority, so this year we have allocated 2% of rates to go into a fund for this purpose.
“We are also investing in other important community priorities detailed within our Council Plan, including a significant amount of funding for projects to improve the health of the Lower Vasse River.
“The budget also includes funding for community facilities and services, with direct net costs for Libraries being $1.7 million, investment into the operation of Leisure Centres being $4.9 million (with much of this cost offset by revenue) and direct operating costs for Saltwater budgeted at $2 million – and once Saltwater is open, we will also see revenue streams from bookings and ticket sales.”
Key budget highlights include:
- Average rate increase of 6%;
- 2% of total rate revenue to go into a New Sport & Recreation Facilities & Infrastructure Reserve (in addition to $1.07 million of surplus funds from 2024/25);
- Average 21% rate increase for holiday homes – this will ensure ongoing effective management, improve parity with commercial accommodation providers and offset the loss of fee income needed for compliance activities now registrations are managed by the State Government;
- $2 million budgeted to operate Saltwater, which is scheduled to open this financial year;
- $1.3 million for the Lower Vasse River, inclusive of $400K State Government funding, to deliver Stage 3 dredging works (with the possibility of Stage 4);
- $50,000 for the Lower Vasse River aeration trial;
- $6.5 million for the Dunsborough Lakes Sporting Pavilion;
- $1 million for upgrade works at the GLC;
- $500,000 for design and initial works on a squash facility;
- $8.2 million in parks, gardens and public open space reserves work, including $2.4 million for further coastal stabilisation works, $523,000 for the playground renewal program and $627,000 for the continuation of the Dunsborough Non-Potable Water Network project;
- $2.2 million for Dunsborough seawall refurbishment;
- $1.3 million for renewal and upgrade works to public ablutions;
- $14.4 million for improving roads;
- $4.6 million for footpath and cycleway construction, including $956K for the progression of works on the Wadandi Track;
- $3 million in various new and upgrade works at the Airport.
View the Budget documents here.
