Rockingham rates hike double Perth's inflation

Residents will be slapped with an increase in rates.

The City of Rockingham council last week approved the rates for the 2018/19 financial year.

Under the approved rating methodology the City is proposing a 3.6 per cent rate increase on all properties, equivalent to $40 per year on the minimum amount payable.   

Residents in Rockingham will now be paying rates above inflation, which is forecast at 1.5 per cent.

This is the second highest rate increase for councils around Perth, Nedlands council will be increasing rates to four per cent this year.

City of Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said adopting the proposed rates and minimum payments would help the City meet the community’s growing needs. 

“As one of the fastest growing Local Governments in the Southern Metropolitan Corridor, the demand for large scale community infrastructure investment is incredibly high,” he said. 

“By being fiscally responsible we can ensure the City of Rockingham continues to provide for the needs of our growing population and ensure that people throughout the City have access to the same range and quality of facilities and services.”   

Last month City of Mandurah announced it would also increase rates by 2 per cent, but Kwinana falls just behind Rockingham, increasing rates by 3.5 per cent. 

“The City of Rockingham is also one of the most efficient local governments in WA, with outcomes from 2017 Local Government Benchmarking indicating we had almost 30 per cent less staff members than the WA average,” Mayor Sammels said. 

“Our feedback score from the Happiness Index on Rock Port, which is a tool used by residents that measure’s how likely they would be to recommend living in the City to a friend or family member; is also very strong and currently sitting at 28.7. 

“As the first local government to implement this kind of initiative, the City is an industry leader in using this kind of ground breaking community engagement. 

“Outcomes from the 2017 customer satisfaction survey have also shown continued growth for the past nine years; all factors which indicate the City is continuing to meet the expectations of the community.”

Major capital expenditure for the 2018/2019 financial year is budgeted at $71.06 million and includes exciting projects such as stage one of the Baldivis District Sporting Complex and the Waterfront Village-Foreshore Redevelopment.

“The City understands the current economic climate can be tough for a number of residents, which is why we are committed to ensuring there are a range of options available to help pay rates,” Mayor Sammels said. 

These include Rates Smoothing, instalment payments, and direct debits either weekly, fortnightly or monthly.  

Rate increases varied from council to council, but most experienced an increase. 

Cockburn 1.9 per cent

Mandurah 2 per cent

East Fremantle 2.5 per cent

Fremantle 2.9 per cent

Wanneroo 2.95 per cent

Joondalup 2.95 per cent

Kwinana 3.5 per cent

Rockingham 3.6 per cent

Nedlands 4 per cent