Fremantle budget balances community's immediate and future needs
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Prioritising asset renewal, absorbing rising costs and delivering projects and services to benefit everyone in the community are the key themes of the City of Fremantle’s 2024-25 budget.
The new budget, adopted by Fremantle Council last night, reflects the strategic priorities of the community by creating a liveable, thriving, creative, resilient and inclusive Fremantle.
The City has allocated $110m to operational costs for delivering facilities and services to the community and $19m for capital projects over the next financial year.
Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said it was a balanced and responsible budget that delivers for every Fremantle ratepayer.
"This budget strikes a balance between meeting rising costs today and planning for a financially sustainable future.
"Whether you live in the city or our suburbs, or run a local business, you will benefit from this budget.
"We are increasing investment in the maintenance of everyday things that we all use including buildings, parks, roads and footpaths. These assets are worth over $500 million and any delay to their upkeep would present a financial burden for future generations," Mayor Fitzhardinge said.
Like most local governments, Fremantle is having to navigate significant increases to the cost-of-service delivery.
To address these significant increases, an average rate rise of 5.4 per cent will be applied.
The income generated by the collection of rates equates to 66 per cent of the City’s total revenue sources in this budget, with a range of other revenue sources such as parking, property, fees & charges and grants contributing to the City’s overall budgeted income.
As well as providing day-to-day facilities and services for the community, this budget remains focused on investing in our suburbs, enabling residential development to get more people living in our city as well as attracting city centre investment to build future prosperity.
Key budget highlights:
$14.3m towards the operation of our key community facilities including the Fremantle Library, Fremantle Leisure Centre, Fremantle Arts Centre and Fremantle Community Legal Centre $10.7m towards parks, landscapes and natural areas $3.2m for the completion of South Beach Changerooms $2.9m for investment into our heritage through the commencement of upgrades to the Town Hall, Fremantle Arts Centre, Moore's Building and Old Fire Station $2.0m towards the delivery of arts, culture and festivals $2.0m towards community safety $1.0m towards the delivery of upgrades at Samson Park, lighting at Hilton Park (Ken Allen) and continuing to finalise design work for the Hilton Park Masterplan $420k for design and delivery of public toilet facilities in the CBD $350k towards coastal adaptation at Port Beach, replacement of the river wall at John Street and natural area fencing in Booyeembara Park $310k for upgrade of BBQs and provision of additional parking at South Beach