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Shire of Mundaring ratepayers face 3.45% increase to rates

Sarah BrookesHills Avon Valley Gazette

MUNDARING Shire residents will face a 3.45 per cent rate rise after councillors unanimously adopted its 2017-18 budget and long-term financial plan at a special council meeting on Wednesday night.

Big-ticket items listed in the budget include the completion of Mundaring Arena, replacement of toilet blocks at Glen Forrest and Sawyers Valley ovals and disability access upgrades to Darlington Hall.

Footpath expenditure will halve to $260,000 per annum and improvements to stormwater systems that protect roads from flooding will also halve to $300,000 per annum.

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The Shire will discontinue Trek the Trail, saving $45,000 annually, and scrap its tourism strategy and destination marketing, saving $145,000 over five years.

Cr James Martin said while he had concerns over the level of rate increases, he believed the Shire was headed in the right direction.

“I acknowledge rates are higher in Mundaring because we lack the commercial revenue generated in the City of Swan and City of Kalamunda,” he said.

“The CEO has identified a further $440,000 in efficiencies and savings but there is certainly more up our sleeve, such as vehicle reviews, to make sure our next rate increase will be closer to 2 per cent.”

Cr Lynn Fisher said the Shire would hold more investigations into its services at Lake Leschenaultia and the Mt Helena Aquatic and Recreation Centre to look for further savings.

“I think when we sort out these services, rate increases will be closer to the CPI,” she said.

Cr Pauline Clark said budget deliberations were the most gruelling in her 12 years as a councillor.

“We have really argued over what services to cut and there were many disagreements, but no blood or tears,” she said.

“We have put our heart and soul into reducing rates and I support this budget.”

Speaking on behalf of the Mt Helena, Sawyers Valley and Helena Valley residents and ratepayers associations, John Bell said the rate increase was one of the highest across all WA local governments.

“We were unsuccessful in requesting councillors to vote to return this draft budget back to the executive and to direct the CEO to look to his administrative costs prior to returning with a suitably modified document that reflects the communities’ stated outcome, to restrict rate increases to CPI without significantly reducing our community services or amenities,” he said.

Midland businessman and Glen Forrest resident Eddie Peters said businesses in the Shire were struggling and supported calls for increases to be capped at the CPI.

“The retail business sector alone is between 30 to 50 per cent down in turnover to a few years ago,” he said.

“Business owners have to have a serious look at their business model so that they can work on ways to survive.

“It is important businesses of any type look at efficiencies and to cut back on excess spending.

“Business owners and property owners are asking the Shire to do the same as they have to do, to run a lean mean operation and only increase rates by the CPI.”

Shire President David Lavell said he was confident residents would be satisfied with the outcome of the budget which reflected the council’s decision to transition to a lower rating profile over a longer term.

“The Budget reflects the priorities identified as a result of comprehensive community engagement,” he said.

“Similarly it takes into account the current challenging economic climate and the need to amend the level of some services previously provided by the Shire.”

Rate rises in other Perth councils

Perth: 1.5 per cent Belmont, Cockburn: 1.75 per cent Fremantle, Mandurah: 1.9 per cent Gosnells: 1.95 per cent Armadale, Melville: 2 per cent Kalamunda: 2 per cent Bassendean: 2.5 per cent Swan: 2.5 per cent Rockingham: 3 per cent Bayswater: 4.9 per cent

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