BAYSWATER homeowners will pay about $1.34 a week more in council rates this year under a budget that promises new playgrounds, thousands more trees, upgraded sports grounds and continued investment in the City’s ageing assets.
Mayor Filomena Piffaretti said the budget would maintain services while ensuring the City remained financially sustainable.
“On behalf of council, I am proud to deliver a budget that provides the services people rely on and maintains the assets we use every day,” she said.
“This is a budget that will enable our city to continue to grow, develop and thrive. It is also a budget that brings people together and puts the community at the heart of what we do.
“This budget ensures the City will remain financially sustainable now and into the future, and delivers good outcomes for the community.
“In developing this year’s budget, council has maintained its strategy of aligning rate increases with CPI plus 1 per cent,” she said, adding 1 per cent would go into reserves to maintain and renew the City’s $1.2 billion in assets.
“Improved residential and commercial property owners will see their rates increase by an average of 4.54 per cent while vacant landowners who have benefited from increasing property prices but have not contributed to the amenity or vibrancy of the area, will pay more.
“On average this equates to an increase of $1.34 per week for residential (improved) property owners; although this may vary due to the revaluation of properties this year.”
Among the biggest spending commitments is more than $10.45 million to maintain the City’s 190-plus public buildings, including libraries, community centres, Bayswater Waves and sporting facilities.
The budget also includes more than $2.3 million for tree planting on verges, in parks and natural areas, building on a program that has already delivered more than 10,000 new trees over the past three years.
Mayor Piffaretti said investment would continue in local sporting and recreation facilities.
“The City will continue to support our more than 150 local community and sporting clubs by providing clubrooms and facilities,” she said.
“This year, more than $750,000 will be spent on the renewal of sports grounds, including the replacement of cricket practice nets at Grand Promenade Reserve and wickets at various grounds.
“The popular vert ramp at the much-loved City of Bayswater Skate Park will be resurfaced.
“Soccer goals will be replaced at Elstead and Frank Drago Reserves. Floodlights will be renewed at Lower Hillcrest Reserve and lamps replaced at Lightning Park.”
Six parks will receive new playground equipment at a cost of $460,000, including Tom Cameron Park and Kanimbla Reserve in Morley, Lightning Park in Noranda, Foreshore Reserve and Plowmans Park in Maylands, and Brown’s Lake Reserve in Bedford.
The budget also allocates $1.1 million to extend and upgrade footpaths across the city.
Other initiatives include safety improvements on Maylands Peninsula roads, additional park furniture and signage, new tree planting on median strips and almost $170,000 in grants to businesses, sporting clubs, environmental organisations and community groups.
The budget was adopted alongside the City’s new four-year Corporate Business Plan and an updated Long-Term Financial Plan, which together set out how the council intends to deliver the priorities identified in its 10-year strategic plan while maintaining financial sustainability.