Shire of Augusta-Margaret River councillors stick by rates decision as 4.9 per cent cleared for homeowners

Councillors in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River have locked in a 4.9 per cent rates increase for residential ratepayers and say they are glad criticisms of the jump were set aside. Last Wednesday night’s council meeting had a unanimous vote from the six members present to lock in the proposed rates increase for the upcoming 2025-26 budget. Veteran councillor Ian Earl, who retires in October, led the chorus at the Augusta-held meeting in defence of the decision not to take on board demands to lower the increase proposed in eight submissions from ratepayers. “I’m pleased we’re not making any changes,” he said. Cr Earl highlighted the flow of new residents to the region putting pressure on services, which he said social media critics of the rates increase had failed to understand. “We need plenty of money so we can manage these things (growth challenges) going forward over the next 10 years,” he said. Cr Melissa D’ath thanked those who took the time to make submissions while acknowledging the 4.9 per cent jump for the average household was necessary. “It is really hard out there,” she said. “I understand some of the comments we got back.” However, she reiterated shire commentary the increase was “a small amount per week” and other local governments were imposing 7 per cent or greater increases. The submissions generally focused on the cost-of-living crisis while also reiterating comments from chartered accountant Julien Sanderson who said members had a “moral obligation” to provide ease for cash-strapped ratepayers. Other submissions called for an internal efficiency review to be undertaken and questioned the benefits of growth if it did not ease the rates burden on existing residents despite new homes adding to the local government’s overall rates take. Cr Kylie Kennaugh feared many residents did not understand that elected members faced the same rates increases. “Everyone thinks we sit here in an ivory tower, and (yet) we are all ratepayers (on council),” she told the meeting. “These decisions aren’t lightly made.” Acting shire president Tracey Muir echoed Cr Kennaugh’s comments. “It’s a very difficult decision and it weighs heavily on us as ratepayers too,” she said. The rates would not be adopted until the overall budget was considered possibly as soon as the end of this month.