Published on Wednesday, 7 August 2024 at 12:39:53 PM
In a time of widespread uncertainty around regional flights and industry, business and social concerns, our community can rest assured that Council and Shire remain steadfast in planning for the best possible future for our community.
With a financial process recognised for excellence in reporting practices by the Auditor General, Councillors and staff consider not just the next 12 months, but also the next 10 years when developing the Budget each year. Work has been ongoing for months, and all are proud of the Shire of Esperance 2024/25 Budget, approved at a Special Council Meeting earlier today.
"The Shire is the same as every other business; facing continual cost increases - and we know the community are feeling the pinch as well,” Shire President Ron Chambers acknowledged.
“Council constantly examines everything the Shire does, where efficiencies can be gained and what must continue untouched, but this becomes a key focus at Budget time. I’m confident we’ve put together a Budget that will get the best possible value for our community from the resources available to us."
“We have held the increase in Rates to 5.5% for GRV (Gross Rental Value) properties, and to 6.5% for UV (Unimproved Value) properties,” Mr Chambers said. “Core services such as utilities and insurances have gone up by between 7% and 10%, so this is a real achievement. The ability to hold successive Rate increases to moderate amounts demonstrates the Shire’s good financial planning and management.”
"This is a prudent Budget" Mr Chambers continued, "maintaining services our community needs, while still working on improvements and efficiencies such as solar energy at the Leisure Centre, streamlining processes for health applications and event management, and providing business and community members with support and better information."
Residential properties (GRV) were revalued this year, as they are every five years, by the Office of the Valuer General. Council sets the adjusted GRV and UV rates in the dollar so the total amount raised will fund each carefully considered item in the Budget. Because of the GRV revaluation, some residential ratepayers will see a higher increase than the adopted rise, this due to a greater increase in the value of their property.
Major projects and acquisitions planned for the 2023-24 Financial year include:·
- $17,172,000 for road renewals and improvements across the Shire of Esperance road network, the largest of any local government in WA. Update on some of these projects in the last financial year here.
- $4,345,000 for Stage One of the Myrup Waste Management Facility, slated to be a game-changer for sustainability in the region, with modern processing infrastructure expected to divert substantial amounts of waste from landfill.
- $4,906,000 to replace the valued Graham Mackenzie Stadium, which has seen increased use despite the availability of the Esperance Indoor Stadium. The new ‘Macka’ Stadium will offer facilities unique in Esperance, with two vinyl floors and an indoor turf floor planned.
- $1,741,000 on land development; in a regional area, and with increasing requirements for land development, this is generally not viable for private business to carry out. The Shire does this work for the benefit of our community, to ensure increasing future residential, social, health, business and development needs are met. Update on some of these projects in the last financial year here.
- $70,000 for the Airport Upgrade and Extension Business Case. ‘Airport facilities and services’ was one of the top five community concerns identified in the 2023 Community Scorecard, and Council and the Shire will continue work to improve these.
- $930,000 for the Cascade Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade Shed, providing housing for fire fighting appliances in a secured purpose-built facility that can be used as either an Incident Control Centre or as a Forward Operations Point. This will allow our dedicated volunteers to have a base for operations, plus a venue to meet and train.
- $315,000 for replacement of the Ripple Sound Ceiling System at the Bay of Isles Leisure Centre aquatic area; installed in 1999 with a 20 year expected lifespan, it’s time to update this.
- $1,591,000 for the Shire’s Building Maintenance Program. This covers all community asset buildings the Shire is responsible for maintaining, those used by our community as well as functional Shire facilities. The 2023 Community Scorecard revealed an 87% positive rating for the Shires performance in maintaining community buildings, halls and toilets. The Shire intends to continue to meet expectations for the delivery of these facilities.
Shire CEO Shane Burge expressed satisfaction at the balance achieved by the Budget.
“We’ve really worked to minimise the Rates increase in an environment where costs have increased beyond CPI,” he said. “Every item in the Budget was examined carefully for the value it brings to our community. This Budget plans responsibly for the future, allowing us to afford the projects our community has told us they want actioned, laid out in the Long Term Financial Plan. The aim of this gradual preparation is to avoid having large rates increases in the future.”
“We’re very aware of the financial pressure our community are under” Mr Burge went on, “and I want to make sure everyone is aware that besides the option to pay in instalments, our ratepayers can also opt to work within their own budgets and set up pre-payment by direct debit. That way, people can get their rates paid off beforehand, or at least get the bill reduced a bit. Contact our Rates officers to set this up.”
The Budget is being funded from $26.8m in Rates, $23.2m in in other Operating Revenue, $20m in Capital Grants, $19.3m from Reserve Transfers, $2.4m from Financing Activities and $3.2m carried forward from last year’s projects”, Mr Burge explained.
“We’re working on a range of exciting projects this year, and we’re all looking forward to delivering them to the community.”
The Waste Rate, contributing to the establishment of the new Myrup Waste Management Facility, the strategy for the closure of the Wylie Bay Waste Management Facility and public bin management, remains unchanged at a minimum $80 per rateable property, and all ratepayers will once again receive four Domestic Waste Voucher entitlements.
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