City of Busselton ratepayers face rate rises to pay for leisure facilities including new recreation centre

Householders in the City of Busselton have been warned to expect rate rises above the consumer price index in the next two years to help pay for leisure facilities. Last year councillors voted unanimously to start looking for a new site to build a $107 million replacement for Geographe Leisure Centre after being told it would cost $105m to bring the facility up to date. Spending on leisure facilities features heavily in the city’s long-term financial plan which sets out how it will meet strategic objectives over the next 10 years. The council adopted the plan at its January 29 council meeting, with the plan expected to be reviewed annually. A total of $38.4 million is expected to be generated through transfers of rates income to a dedicated Sport and Recreation Facilities Reserve, with grant funding and loan borrowing also being sought for major project funding. Spending on new facilities is forecast in years one, three and four. Mayor Phill Cronin said spending on sports and recreation was a “key priority” for ratepayers. “The continued provision of sport and recreation infrastructure is clearly a key priority for our community and remains a key strategic focus for the City, with $111 million of capital expenditure forecast over the 10 years,” he said. “This includes provisions for land acquisition and the construction of a new district sport and recreation centre in the latter years of the plan.” Maintaining current assets is also on the cards with $214 million forecast to be invested into asset renewal of infrastructure and buildings, ensuring safe roads, footpaths and cycle ways and well-maintained public facilities and parks. “The City of Busselton continues to be one of the fastest growing regions in Australia,” Mr Cronin said. “To meet our community’s expectations, particularly for new sport and recreation investment, whilst also ensuring there is sufficient funding for ongoing asset management and provision of quality services, rates revenue is forecast to increase above CPI in 2025/26 and 2026/27. “However, rates revenue is forecast to increase at more moderate levels for the remainder of the plan.”