City aims to find the right balance for 2023/24 budget

The City again endeavoured to take a conservative approach to its budget preparations for the 2023/24 financial year.

Unfortunately, the forecasts in the City’s Long-Term Financial Plan were lower than the current level of inflation in 2023, with the consumer price index (CPI) for the last quarter at 7.8 per cent, and the Local Government Cost Index, which reflects a range of costs that Council face, such as construction, electricity and materials, was forecast at 4.5 per cent.

City of Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said that inflation and the rising cost of living was being felt by everyone, including local governments.

“With a number of the City’s major contracts subject to these increases, it has all contributed to the financial pressures Councils are facing. Additionally, there has also been a five per cent increase to the State Government’s emergency services levy that Council collects on its behalf, and a 7.5 per cent increase to street lighting tariffs, set by Western Power,” Mayor Adams said.

“We continue to be a fast-growing City, with the latest Census data estimating that the City’s population reached a milestone number of 50,000 during the 2022/23 financial year. The City strives to ensure that it balances cost increases with ensuring services and infrastructure are able to support our growing community,” she said.

Due to the late inclusion of the Western Power Street Lighting tariff, which will cost the City an additional $105,000 in the 2023/24 budget, the proposed 3.95 per cent rates increase was increase by 0.25, bringing it to 4.2 per cent or $1.22 per week for an average residential property.

“This budget includes some much-sought after community projects, including enhancements to the CCTV network, urban tree planting program, Kwinana Loop Trail improvements, Wellard West Community Centre Clubrooms, Gilmore Avenue shared path construction, new toilets at Challenger Beach and a youth pump track in Wandi,” she said.

The 2023/24 budget has been prepared after taking into consideration the City’s Strategic Community Plan (SCP), Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP), detailed business cases, organisational service reviews and budget workshops.

To view the minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting – June 29 visit www.kwinana.wa.gov.au/minutesandagendas.

Key Highlights of the 2023/24 Budget

• $4.8m towards Road Upgrades and Renewals, including resurfacing, resurfacing, strengthening and upgrading, to extend the life of the City’s road network, and to ensure roads can manage volume and weight of future traffic.

• $3.2m for Community Centres and Library services including programs, events, creche and facility hire.

• $1.7m towards parks and public open space upgrades and renewals including parks bore electrical works, equipment, fencing and playground equipment.

• $1.5m for building renewals including major repairs and replacement of building components (e.g. paint, floor coverings, roof, electrical) in order to extend the life of buildings and maintain level of service.

• $1.4m towards the Youth Centre for the management and facilitation of The Zone and associated activities.

• $497k for the annual community events program

• $216k towards the upgrade of the Kwinana Loop Trail

• $188k towards the Street Tree Program to ensure continued tree planting programs around Kwinana.

• $110k towards the Kwinana Active program to provide community initiatives to encourage active and healthy lifestyles.

• $30k towards Mural Art projects at various locations including Ascot Park in Bertram

• $25k for the installation of EV charging points at the Kwinana Adventure Park