Budget 2026-2027
The City of Busselton Council has now adopted its 2026/27 annual budget, continuing to drive its vision of being a place “Where environment, lifestyle and opportunity thrive”.
With operating expenditure of $135M and capital investment of $63M, this year’s budget enables ongoing delivery and improvement to a wide range of services and facilities. There is a strong focus on delivery of key actions from the City’s Council Plan 2024-2034 that will continue to enhance, strengthen and support our growing and diverse community.
The 2026/27 annual budget not only considers current needs; it also makes provision for future long-term investment in community infrastructure. Development of enhanced sport and recreational facilities that meet the needs of our growing population remains a clear community priority, so this year there is an increase in the allocation of total rates revenue into the New Sport and Recreation Facilities and Infrastructure Reserve, with $2.7M or 3% of total rates revenue being put aside for this purpose.
There are a number of community-focused projects on the list for delivery this year:
- $6.4M (carried over from 2025/26) for construction of the Dunsborough Lakes Sporting Pavilion
- $9.5M in footpath and cycleway construction, including $2.9M for a new unsealed trail from Castle Bay to Meelup Beach and $5.9M for the progression of works on the Wadandi Track (which is all grant funded)
- $4M (including $1.6M carried over from 2025/26), to complete the final works on Saltwater Busselton, the City’s state-of-the-art Performing Arts and Convention Centre, enabling it to operate to its full capacity
- $1.5M for upgrade works at the City’s Leisure Centres, including replacement of the Pool Liner
- $500K for continuation of planning and design on a squash facility
- $300K towards progression of improved facilities at Dunsborough Districts Country Club;
- $250K for lighting upgrades at Barnard Park Oval
- $520K for various renewal and upgrade works to public ablutions, including $400K for the construction of a new toilet at Holgate Reserve
- $740K for various renewal and upgrade works to the City’s Aged Housing assets
- $20M to improve City’s road network, including works on Ludlow-Hithergreen Road and Hairpin Road
- $300,000 for development of a new district-wide traffic study to guide future road network planning
- $4M for parks, gardens and public open space reserves, including $330K for playground upgrades in various locations
- $3.1M for the continuation of various coastal protection works along Geographe Bay
- $3.2M in various new and upgrade works at the Busselton Margaret River Airport
The City is also investing into other important community priorities detailed within the Council Plan, including funding to undertake a youth needs analysis across Vasse and Yalyalup, development of a Community Safety Action Plan, commencement of a review of the City’s Local Planning Strategy to support responsible future development, and a service review program to ensure continuous improvement and service efficiency. There is also continuation of funding for improving emergency access ways.
It is important that as a Council we remain agile and respond to changing economic and community circumstances. Having considered both the need to invest in the delivery of services and priorities that provide for our growing population along with community concerns around affordability and cost of living, this budget, underpinned by an average residential rate increase of 6.2% aims to achieves the right balance.
Budget Highlights 2025/2027
Figures represent operational and capital expenditure, including corporate allocations. Numbers have been rounded for accessibility.
Related Information
2026/27 - Adopted Annual Budget
2026/27 - Adopted Schedule of Fees and Charges
You can view a recording of the debate on the City's YouTube page >>
You can view the Council Plan 2024-2034 here >>