City endorses budget with focus on meeting community needs.

The City of Karratha Council has adopted its 2024/25 Annual Budget with a host of new initiatives and fee relief for residential ratepayers to ease cost of living pressures.

The budget this year responds directly to community feedback with programs and services aimed at meeting community expectations and more than $1.4m of new initiatives.

As part of a major $52m capital works program, the City will be completing the Roebourne Streetscape masterplan construction worth $6.5m as well undertaking upgrades at the Karratha Leisureplex Karratha Airport terminal and commencing construction of new housing in Karratha.

Following positive feedback about the City’s footpath program in the Community Survey, the City will be fast tracking  and delivering two years worth of footpath works over 12 months.

However, the City has heard from residents their concerns over cost pressures and has looked to include measures that address the cost of living issues including the popular summer holidays kids swim free and shoot free program, keeping lights on at facilities in Wickham and Roebourne to boost oval use and fee relief for owner occupiers. 

This is despite significantly increasing costs to the City including insurance premiums rising 10.9% while materials and contracts rose by 13.7%.

The City requires $57.4m from general rating revenue which will result in a rate increase of 3.5%, an average increase of $85 a year for households.

However the City actively pursues alternative revenue sources to put downwards pressure on rates with investments like the Quarter expected to generate a net operating result of $2.7m, which represents the equivalent of a 4.9% rate increase.

City of Karratha Mayor Daniel Scott said the budget reflects a balanced approach to meeting community expectations and feedback while recognising the rising costs to operate faced by the Council. 

“We want to enhance our facilities and services and to meet community  expectations, however, we are also conscious of the cost of living pressures facing some of our residents and so we are trying to manage that in a way that delivers as much as possible without increasing the burden on ratepayers,” Cr Scott said.

“Our investments, like the Quarter, provide a positive alternative revenue source reducing  what is required from rates and allowing the City to absorb cost increases in the budget.

“We’ve got several important projects in our capital works program, from $13.2m in transport projects such as the construction of Coolawanyah & Dewitt Road, and bringing forward planned footpath development to complete two years’ worth of our 10 year footpath strategy within 12 months.

“We will also be starting construction on the eagerly awaited Roebourne Streetscape masterplan, upgrades to the Karratha Leisureplex and the Kevin Richards Memorial oval multi-use courts, surface lighting and stadium terraced seating.”

To help alleviate the cost pressure on residents, Mayor Scott said the City was rolling out a suite of measures to reduce cost of living pressures including the kids swim free and shoot free program, increasing free community events and activations, and implementing a lights on program for ovals in Wickham and Roebourne. 

These initiatives will be complemented with fee relief for residential ratepayers with discounts at the Karratha Leisureplex, Roebourne Aquatic Centre, Wickham Recreation Precinct and the Red Earth Arts Precinct.

“This year we are ensuring owner-occupiers are supported with a 20% discount for aquatic  memberships at our recreation facilities and all Red Earth Arts Precinct events. These discounts can fully offset the average rate increase of $85 by providing an annual saving of $102 for a 12-month adult aquatic membership, or a $10 saving on a $50 family pass to the Cinema,” Cr Scott said.

“The City has responded to that feedback by maintaining downward pressure on fees and charges, and delivering free and family-friendly community events.” 

2024/25 Highlights
•    Roebourne Streetscape Master Plan Phase 1 and Phase 2 $6.5m
•    Hancock Way – construction of 6 Houses $5.9m
•    Complete Hillview/Balmoral Road upgrade $2.9m
•    Road Reseal Program $2.5m
•    Lights On program
•    Point Samson Entry Statement 
•    KRMO Oval Playing Surface Lighting & Pole Upgrade $2.5m
•    Ten Year Footpath Program (2024-25 and 2025-26 program) $1.9m
•    Karratha Leisureplex Oval Lighting Replacement $1.6m
•    Strategic Community Plan review completion
•    Karratha Airport Airside Upgrade (multiple projects) $1.6m
•    Place plans developed for Point Sampson, Roebourne and Wickham and Dampier 
•    Improving governance through strategic planning and project management frameworks
•    Increased family friendly events and activations such as the Red Earth Arts Festival and FeNaClNG Festival
•    More events and activities for youth
•    Continuing community safety initiatives such as the Security Subsidy Scheme