Proposed Rates
2025/2026 Rating Proposal
You can review the 2025/2026 Rating Proposal via the link below:
2025-2026 Rating Proposal
2025-2026 Notice of Intention to Levy Differential Rates
Additional Rating and Valuation Information
Rates are a primary source of revenue for the City of Busselton (City) and are imposed on all rateable land within its district so as to provide revenue to fund the services and facilities provided to residents, local businesses and visitors.
All rateable land will have either a Gross Rental Value (GRV) valuation, for land that is predominantly used for non-rural purposes, or an Unimproved (UV) valuation, for land that is predominantly used for rural purposes. These valuations are provided by the Valuer Generals Office (VGO) in accordance with the Valuation of Land Act 1978 and are usually revalued every 3 years for GRV and yearly for UV values. There has been a revaluation of all GRV’s and UV’s with average increases of 35.61% and 9.32% respectively. The new valuations will be effective from 1 July 2025 with the GRV average increases being:
- Residential: 41.88%
- Commercial: 11.1%
- Industrial: 14.87%
- Vacant Land: 38.06%
- Miscellaneous: 34.15%
The new GRV and UV valuations were assessed by the VGO as of 1 August 2024.
If there are any queries in relation to a property’s valuation, please refer to the VGO website at www.landgate.wa.gov.au/valuations or call their customer service on (08) 9273 7373 for more information.
The City may impose a single general rate on all rateable land with a GRV or UV valuation type. Alternatively, the City can distinguish between land based on its use, zoning or whether it is vacant land (or other characteristic set out in regulations), or a combination of these factors, and apply a differential rate.
For the 2025/26 financial year, the City intends to continue to use differential rates to raise rate revenue and balance Councils 2025/26 Annual Budget, while also ensuring alignment with Council’s endorsed strategies and plans.
It is intended that for the 2025/26 financial year that there will be an average 7.00% increase on all differential rating categories except for Holiday Homes, which will have an average 22.81% increase. These average increases take into consideration as best as possible the GRV and UV valuation increases, with the proposed rates in the dollar having been reduced in response. Where a property’s valuation increase is above or below the average, then that property’s rates will be higher or lower than the 7% or 22% average.
The proposed rate increase seeks to provide for continued maintenance of the City’s substantial asset base and the delivery of quality services and facilities for the community. The City intends to contribute 2% of total rates revenue to its New Sport and Recreation reserve fund, in line with its Council Plan priority for improved sport and recreation infrastructure and is also looking to fund additional bushfire mitigation.
Funding will also help to bolster staffing in areas such as regulatory services and compliance, waste management, work health and safety, and infrastructure design and delivery. Ensuring the City can attract and retain qualified and experienced staff is a key workforce planning goal.
Increases to holiday homes rates will help to recover compliance revenue lost through the City’s registration scheme coming to an end (with the City’s registration scheme ending in January 2025) and will also help to improve parity between the rating contribution of commercial accommodation providers and holiday home operators. Holiday homes and commercial accommodation both play an important role in the tourism industry, supported by the City’s services and well maintained City infrastructure.
Proposed Differential Rates
It is proposed for the 2025/26 financial year that the following rate in the dollar and minimum payment will apply for each differential rating category:
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Differential Rating Category
|
Rate in the $
|
Minimum Payment
|
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GROSS RENTAL VALUATION PROPERTIES
|
|
Residential – Improved & Vacant
|
$0.068787
|
$1,737.00
|
|
Commercial - Improved & Vacant
|
$0.114766
|
$1,737.00
|
|
Industrial - Improved & Vacant
|
$0.118318
|
$1,737.00
|
|
GRV Holiday Home
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$0.095785
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$2,177.00
|
|
UNIMPROVED VALUATION PROPERTIES
|
|
Primary Production
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$0.003166
|
$1,737.00
|
|
Commercial
|
$0.005893
|
$1,737.00
|
|
Rural
|
$0.003035
|
$1,895.00
|
|
UV Holiday Home
|
$0.003620
|
$2,517.00
|
(**NOTE: Council when adopting the annual budget may vary the above proposed rate in the dollar and minimum payment amounts.)
Other Yearly Charges, Fees and Levies
All yearly charges, fees and levies are clearly outlined on your Rate Notice and may include:
Specified Area Proposed Rate in Dollar
It is proposed for the 2025/26 financial year that the following rate in the dollar will apply for the Specified Area’s as per the below maps:
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Specified Area Rates
|
Rate in the $
|
Total Rates
|
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GROSS RENTAL VALUATION PROPERTIES
|
|
PORT GEOGRAPHE
To all properties within the area known as Port Geographe, in order to meet the obligations of the City under the Port Geographe Management Deed. The rate is applied to all properties within the area of former Town Planning Scheme No. 19 based upon a property’s Gross Rental Value.
|
$0.010515
|
$291,742
|
|
PROVENCE
To all properties within the area known as the Provence Subdivision (Busselton Airport North), in order to hold funds for the maintenance of the approved higher standard of landscaping within the Provence subdivision in accordance with Council resolution C0806/172.
|
$0.009135
|
$231,819
|
|
VASSE
To all properties within the area known as the Vasse (Birchfields) Subdivision, in order to hold funds for the maintenance of the approved higher standard of landscaping within the Vasse (Birchfields) subdivision in accordance with Council resolution C0806/173.
|
$0.011395
|
$216,246
|
|
UNIMPROVED VALUATION PROPERTIES
|
|
PROVENCE
To all properties within the area known as the Provence Subdivision (Busselton Airport North), in order to hold funds for the maintenance of the approved higher standard of landscaping within the Provence subdivision in accordance with Council resolution C0806/172.
|
$0.000141
|
$863
|
(**NOTE: Council when adopting the annual budget may vary the above proposed rate in the dollar.)
Waste Infrastructure Rate
A rate in the dollar is levied to fund significant waste infrastructure development and boost recycling activities to reduce landfill. The rates in the dollar are:
- Unimproved Valuations – Rate in Dollar $0.0000050; Minimum Rate - $110
- Gross Rental Valuations – Rate in Dollar $0.00001; Minimum Rate - $110
Swimming Pool Fee
Charged per annum for properties that have on them a swimming pool, for an approved Council officer to inspect the safety requirements.
State Government Emergency Services Levy (ESL)
The Emergency Services Levy (ESL) is a compulsory State Government levy which is forwarded to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) to fund services such as fire and rescue services, bush fire brigades and state emergency services throughout Western Australia.
The State Government has determined that there will be an average increase of 32.48% in ESL for the 2025/2026 financial year. For further information please refer to the DFES website at or call 1300 136 099.
Did you know?
The Emergency Services Levy (ESL) funds Western Australia’s (WA) fire and emergency services, including Career and Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service brigades, Volunteer Fire and Emergency Service units, bushfire fighting and management services.
Objects and Reasons for Differential Rates
Differential Rates – Gross Rental Valuations (GRV)
Residential (Improved/Vacant)
The object of this category is to apply a differential general rate or minimum payment to land used or held or zoned for residential purposes. And to act as the City’s benchmark differential rate and minimum payment by which all other GRV rated properties are assessed.
The reason for this rate is to ensure that all ratepayers make a reasonable contribution towards the ongoing maintenance of public assets, infrastructure and facilities, as well the provision of community services throughout the district.
GRV Holiday Homes
The object of this category is to apply a differential rate or minimum payment to land with a Gross Rental Value that is wholly or partly used or held or zoned for Holiday Home purposes.
The reasons for this rate, which is over and above that for ordinary Residential mentioned above, is to assist with the funding of Tourism, Marketing, Events and Economic Development related projects, activities, and services throughout the district, as well as assist with the compliance costs associated with holiday homes. It is also to improve parity between the rating contribution of commercial accommodation providers and holiday home operators.
Commercial (Improved/Vacant)
The object of this category is to apply a differential rate or minimum payment to land wholly or partly used or held or zoned for Commercial purposes.
The reason for this rate is in order to assist with the funding of Tourism, Marketing, Events and Economic Development related projects, activities and services throughout the district.
Industrial (Improved/Vacant)
The object of this category is to apply a differential rate or minimum payment to land wholly or partly used or held or zoned for Industrial purposes.
The reason for this rate is to assist with the funding of Tourism, Marketing, Events and Economic Development related projects, activities and services throughout the district.
Differential Rates – Unimproved Valuations (UV)
Primary Production
The object of this category is to apply a differential general rate or minimum payment to land used or held or zoned for bona-fide primary production and is to act as the City’s benchmark differential rate by which all other UV rated properties are assessed.
The reason for this rate is to ensure that all ratepayers make a reasonable contribution towards the ongoing maintenance of public assets, infrastructure and facilities, as well the provision of community services throughout the district.
UV Rural
The object of this category is to apply a differential rate or minimum payment to land used or held or zoned for non-primary production or non-commercial purposes.
The reason for this rate is to acknowledge that the majority of properties in this category are typically of a rural residential nature and that the level of rating should be more reflective of such use.
UV Holiday Home
The object of this category is to apply a differential rate or minimum payment to land with an Unimproved Value that is wholly or partly used or held or zoned for Holiday Home purposes.
The reason for this rate is to assist with the funding of Tourism, Marketing, Events and Economic Development related projects, activities, and services throughout the district, as well as assist with the compliance costs associated with holiday homes. It is also to improve parity between the rating contribution of commercial accommodation providers and holiday home operators.
UV Commercial
The object of this category is to apply a differential rate or minimum payment to land with an Unimproved Value that is wholly or partly used or held or zoned for commercial purposes.
The reason for this rate is in order to assist with the funding of Tourism, Marketing, Events and Economic Development related projects, activities and services throughout the district, and to achieve a fair and equitable level of rating between commercial properties within both the UV and GRV differential rating categories.