City of Rockingham council reduces rate rise to 3.5% but cost-of-living support carries $460k shortfall

Rates are on the rise in the City of Rockingham but not to the extent first mooted.

The council opted to go against a proposal to lift rates by 3.9 per cent next financial year in favour of a “more modest” increase of 3.5 per cent.

The higher figure would have enabled the city to lock away a war chest for planned upgrades at Aqua Jetty and Mike Barnett Sports Complex, but opting for the lower figure has left a $460,000 hole in the council’s annual budget and uncertainty about where the cost shortfalls for those projects will come from.

Cr Kelly Middlecoat led the charge at last week’s meeting to limit the rates increase to 3.5 per cent, arguing that ratepayers were already paying an extra $33 due to the FOGO waste levy.

“Having a look at the broader economic picture, the CPI for the 12 months ended 31 March 2025 was 2.4 per cent and the WA local government cost index is forecast to be 2.7 per cent this year,” she said.

“This shows our proposed increase is outpacing the general cost of living and even specific costs faced by local government.

“A rate increase of 3.9 per cent was intended to generate some additional revenue over and above what was required in order to address the funding shortfalls for the Aqua Jetty and Mike Barnett projects.

“The precise budget for these projects remains unquantified, with neither project being shovel-ready next financial year.”

Council members voted unanimously for Cr Middlecoat’s alternative motion.

In a later statement, Rockingham mayor Deb Hamblin said the council’s annual budget aimed to strike a balance between addressing community needs while acknowledging cost-of-living pressures.

“Council listened to community concerns about the current economic circumstances facing many households and has kept the rate increase to a minimum,” Ms Hamblin said.

“The increase is 3.5 per cent which equates to approximately $1.06 per week for the average residence, and is lower than advertised to support our ratepayers with cost-of-living pressures.

“In addition, council has supported not charging interest on rates-smoothing payments for the 2025-2026 financial year to provide further assistance with cost-of-living pressures. This option will greatly assist ratepayers choosing this option to pay their rates without any extra costs.”

Ms Hamblin said the budget was prepared with an eye on the future while continuing to meet the community’s aspirations defined in the 2023-2033 Strategic Community Plan.

It includes money to complete the Stan Twight clubroom redevelopment, the final stage of the Baldivis Sporting Complex including outdoor courts, Southern Pavilion and outdoor recreation space, the Anniversary Park clubroom redevelopment and the relocation of Lotteries House.

“As a rapidly growing outer metropolitan local government area with a current population of more than 150,000 people, keeping pace with the growing needs of the community and maintaining existing assets and services remain ongoing challenges,” she said.

“In addition, with 37 kilometres of coastline, climate change is a major challenge for us. That’s why 0.5 per cent of rates will be allocated to a coastal hazard risk management and adaptation plan reserve account to help fund future climate change mitigation works.”

Ratepayers who want to take advantage of the interest-free arrangement need to have an existing arrangement or sign up using the application form that will arrive with the rates notice.