Published on Thursday, 31 July 2025 at 11:03:57 AM
The City of Busselton Council has now adopted the City’s 2025/26 annual budget, with a clear focus on key priorities identified by the community.
With the City’s Vision being “Where environment, lifestyle and opportunity thrive”, this year’s budget enables delivery of a wide range of projects, activities and services that will continue to enhance, strengthen and support the whole community into the future.
Mayor Phill Cronin said: “We have worked hard over the last few months to find ways to keep costs down whilst still investing in enhancing services to meet the needs of our growing population. We have been cognisant of the current cost of living pressures, and our Council certainly took community feedback on board when adopting this budget.”
“The Council has been listening to the community and we have allocated funds to support the highest priorities identified by the community last year. Development of future sport and recreational facilities was certainly a top community priority, so this year we have allocated 2% of rates to go into a fund for this purpose. We are also investing in other important community priorities detailed within our Council Plan, including a significant amount of funding for projects to improve the health of the Lower Vasse River” he said.
Mayor Cronin added: “The budget also includes funding for community facilities and services, with direct net costs for Libraries being $1.7M, investment into the operation of Leisure Centres being $4.9M (with much of this cost offset by revenue) and direct operating costs for Saltwater budgeted at $2M - and once Saltwater is open, we will also see revenue streams from bookings and ticket sales.”
Key budget highlights include:
- Average rate increase of 6%
- 2% of total rate revenue to go into a New Sport & Recreation Facilities & Infrastructure Reserve (in addition to $1.07M of surplus funds from 2024/25)
- Average 21% rate increase for holiday homes - this will ensure ongoing effective management, improve parity with commercial accommodation providers and offset the loss of fee income needed for compliance activities now registrations are managed by the State Government
- $2M budgeted to operate Saltwater, which is scheduled to open this financial year
- $1.3M for the Lower Vasse River, inclusive of $400K State Government funding, to deliver Stage 3 dredging works (with the possibility of Stage 4)
- $50K for the Lower Vasse River aeration trial
- $6.5M for the Dunsborough Lakes Sporting Pavilion
- $1M for upgrade works at the GLC
- $500K for design and initial works on a squash facility
- $8.2M in parks, gardens and public open space reserves work, including $2.4M for further coastal stabilisation works, $523K for the playground renewal program and $627K for the continuation of the Dunsborough Non-Potable Water Network project
- $2.2M for Dunsborough seawall refurbishment
- $1.3M for renewal and upgrade works to public ablutions
- $14.4M for improving roads
- $4.6M for footpath and cycleway construction, including $956K for the progression of works on the Wadandi Track
- $3M in various new and upgrade works at the Airport
You can find our budget documents on the City’s Budget 2025 - 2026 Page.
You can view a recording of the debate on the City's YouTube Channel.
Select to view the City’s Council Plan 2024-2034.
Objectives outlined in this statement are aligned with the City of Busselton’s Council Plan (2024 - 2034) Key Theme Leadership – We actively engage with community to deliver visionary, collaborative and accountable leadership.
Ends. Media enquiries can be directed to pr@busselton.wa.gov.au
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