Town of Bassendean to have lowest rate rise in more than a decade

THE Town of Bassendean is to have its lowest rate rise in more than a decade.

The council endorsed the 2018-19 draft budget at its July 24 meeting, which included a 0.9 per cent rate rise.

Corporate services director Michael Costarella said it was the lowest increase he had seen in 11 years of working at the Town.

It meant the minimum rate for each property would increase $10 from $1085 to $1095.

It was among the lowest rises in Perth along with the City of Melville (0.9 per cent), City of Perth (0.8 per cent) and Town of Cottesloe (0.7 per cent).

The Town of Cambridge was the only council in Perth to have no increase.

Mr Costarella said the Town achieved the small rise through having capital grants of $2.3 million, cash in lieu of $544,000 and $1.4 million of reserve funds for capital works.

The Town had a 2.5 per cent rise last year.

Waste service fees are to increase by $5 from $360 to $365 to cover the introduction of a third bin into the household waste system.

Councillors rejected a recommendation to increase Australia Day fireworks parking costs from $10 to $15, with the general consensus being that it would result in too many disgruntled patrons.

The budget was at a surplus of nearly $100,000 before councillors made several amendments, the most major of which was Mayor Renee McLennan’s proposal to plant 100 more trees in the Town.

She said this would cost about $75,000 to “kickstart our urban forest”.

Councillors passed the amendment unanimously.