City of Rockingham adopts budget with 4.58 per cent rates increase, rejects lower amount

The City of Rockingham has adopted its 2026-27 budget despite a last-minute push for a lower rates increase.

The budget, which includes a general rates increase of 4.58 per cent, was adopted 7-4 by the council at its June 23 meeting.

The 4.58 per cent increase equates to about $2.34 per week for the average residential property.

Because of new valuations by State agency Landgate, some ratepayers may see a greater or lesser increase than others, depending on the change to their property’s value.

This year’s budget includes $144 million in capital expenditure. Major projects include the completion of the Anniversary Park clubroom and Autumn Centre redevelopments, and the start of the Safety Bay foreshore community facility, the second stage of the Aqua Jetty refurbishment and expansion, and doubling the capacity at the Wanliss Street carpark.

But Cr Peter Hudson, who spoke against the budget, said a “mild” alternate of a 3.9 per cent increase would still be able to pay for them.

Council staff had warned that would not be enough to pay for the business plan adopted by the council in May.

Cr Hudson said there were options other than reaching deeper into residents’ pockets, including reviewing its sponsorship arrangements and the lodging of “frivolous” behaviour complaints against councillors that required consultant lawyers, as well as ceasing city-funded trips overseas.

“In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, whose side are we on, really?” Cr Hudson said.

“The message I have received remarkably consistently, nearly unanimous, is that people are hurting. Families are cutting back on essentials.

“More people than ever are finding themselves just one unexpected bill away from real financial hardship.

“It’s not unreasonable to expect local government to downsize its expenditure accordingly. We should not be insulated from the realities facing the people who pay our bills.”

Cr Leigh Liley said residents expected the city to provide services.

“Years ago, when I first got on to council, unfortunately rates were kept historically low and the road delaminated. It was an absolute nightmare . . . facilities were going down the gurgler,” she said.

“We are 270sqkm. It is a big local government authority. It’s not like a little itty-bitty South Perth or something like that. We are huge.

“The reality is that delivering these services and maintaining our infrastructure comes at a cost.

“Our responsibility is not to consider the next 12 months but to ensure long-term financial sustainability of this organisation and the service it provides to our communities.”

Cr Kelly Middlecoat said she had never supported a rates increase but there was not enough evidence for her to support a 3.9 per cent increase.

“Please put in the work and present a fully worked credible alternative if we are to get this over the line in future,” she said.

Mayor Lorna Buchan said the rates rise was less than that of similarly sized local governments.

“I have been speaking with mayors in those areas, and they are facing huge holes in asset maintenance that we are not currently facing. But if we continue on this route, we will be,” she said.

“The budget before us is tighter, more disciplined and more realistic than in past years.

“The reality is we are navigating the same economic pressures faced by every household, every business, every local government in the country.”

Members of the public also pushed for a lower rates increase during question time at the meeting.

In a statement released after the meeting, Ms Buchan said the budget aimed to strike a “careful balance” between addressing the growing needs of the community while recognising cost-of-living pressures.

“Council has been very mindful of the current economic conditions and the pressure many households are under and has worked hard to keep the rate increase as low as possible,” she said.

The city has a range of payment options; visit its website or call 9528 0333.