Rates up 5pc to help fund works

The city announced total budget expenditure of $102.8 million, $30.7 million of which has been allocated for capital projects.

The city has set aside funding for some big projects including the High Street Mall upgrade ($325,000), a new Leighton Beach kiosk and change room ($1.22 million), the realignment of the Fremantle Public Golf Course ($1.1 million), continued work at the Old Fremantle Boys School ($705,000) and the development of plans for the new administration building ($500,000).

All that will remain is a $100,000 surplus.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said the city had set out to limit rate rises without sacrificing services and the revitalisation of Fremantle. "Our current strategic plan comes to an end this year and we want to make sure the momentum gained over the past few years is continued," he said.

"In an environment of rising fixed costs I believe this is a responsible budget that balances our responsibilities to our residents and to the broader sustainability of Fremantle as Perth's second city.

"Over the past few years the council has allocated funds to rectify what can only be described as a generational backlog of essential heritage maintenance work.

"Our heritage buildings are a big part of what makes Fremantle the special place it is, so we will continue to focus on the conservation of heritage buildings as well as encouraging adaptive re-use of privately owned heritage buildings."