1.9% rate rise for Cockburn

THE City of Cockburn has signed off on their 2019-20 budget, bringing with it a rate increase of 1.9 per cent.

Among the notable items included in the new budget is $43.3m set aside for community capital assets including roads, parks and community infrastructure and provision for the complete roll out of the third or garden organic bin across all residential properties.

Funds have been allocated to construction of the Wetlands Education Centre ($5m of $6m), the Frankland Park recreation and community centre ($1.5m of $7.8m) and the Malabar Park BMX facilities ($1.1m of $2.5m).

Road infrastructure will also receive a boost with $7.6m for the Jandakot Road project, $6m for the Verde Drive project and $2m for the Karel Avenue upgrade.

According to the City’s budget report it will be the 11th consecutive year they had delivered an operating surplus, with an expected $5.76m net surplus.

It also stated the 1.9 per cent rate increase was in-line with the Local Government Cost Index and forecast CPI and that they would continue to run the Smart Rates initiative, which is now used by more than 6600 ratepayers to make weekly or fortnightly direct debit payments.

Cockburn mayor Logan Howlett said the rate increase was lower than the metropolitan average.

“The City’s low rate rise will continue the trend of 2018-19 for Cockburn, when home owners paid some of the lowest household rates in Perth,” he said.

“Overall, the average residential improved ratepayer will pay an extra 56 cents per week ($29 pa) after concession and for those on the minimum payment rate the increase will be 48 cents per week ($25 pa).

“The pension rebate cap of $750 (first applied in 2016-17) will remain the same, effectively saving the State Government millions of dollars through neither lifting the cap nor indexing it to CPI.

“The Seniors Rebate will also remain unchanged, capped at $100.”

The Waste Services charge will stay at $458 for the fourth consecutive year.