City of Canning releases Better Budget: Putting Our Community First

At its Ordinary Council Meeting on 19 May 2026, the City of Canning Council considered its proposed differential rates for the 2026/27 financial year.

The draft Budget has been shaped by priorities identified through the recent Living in Canning community survey, with residents highlighting the importance of safer streets, better roads, well-maintained parks and Leisureplexes, environmental care, and welcoming places where people can gather, connect and enjoy community life. Legislative requirements mean the proposed differential rate must be advertised ahead of the City formally considering the full Budget, which is scheduled to be presented to Council on 30 June 2026.

“This Budget is about continuing to deliver the services, infrastructure and community spaces our residents rely on every day,” said City of Canning Mayor Patrick Hall. “We know cost-of-living pressures remain a real concern for many households, so the City has taken a careful and disciplined approach to spending while continuing to invest in the things that matter most to our community. I am confident this Budget strikes a responsible balance between affordability and delivering for our growing City.”

The draft 2026/27 Budget totals $215.8 million and includes $24.6 million in State and Federal Government funding, helping to reduce the rate increase required to deliver on community expectations.

Gross Rental Values (GRVs) for all properties are independently determined by Landgate and are used by the City to calculate rates. Updated GRVs will take effect from 1 July 2026 following Landgate’s three-year revaluation process.

“These updated valuations reflect the strong demand for property across the City and Canning’s growing appeal as a place to live, work and invest,” said Mayor Hall.

“We also recognise higher valuations can impact households, which is why the City will adjust the rate in the dollar to help moderate the effect on ratepayers.”

Despite continuing to maintain one of the lower residential rating levels among benchmarked metropolitan local governments, the City continues to deliver an extensive range of services and facilities, including two Leisureplexes, a 24/7 community safety service, well-maintained and growing parks and community spaces, and a comprehensive kerbside waste program.

“We know people want to see value from their rates,” Mayor Hall said. “This Budget reflects the increasing cost of supporting a growing City and maintaining the quality services, facilities and lifestyle our residents expect.”

The City has adjusted the residential rate in the dollar from approximately 6 cents to 4 cents, ensuring rising property valuations deliver a benefit to homeowners rather than an increased rates burden. The proposed Budget reflects a modest 5.75% differential rate increase, averaging $87 per year for residential ratepayers, with a capped 50% rebate for pensioners.

Highlights of the draft 2026/27 Budget include:

• $6.2 million for community safety initiatives, including 24/7 Community Patrols, Holiday Watch patrols and ongoing support for the Security Incentive Scheme. The City’s CCTV network will expand to more than 500 fixed cameras, alongside more than 60,000 hours of mobile CCTV deployment to help deter and respond to antisocial behaviour across the district.
• $25.6 million for parks, playgrounds and sporting reserves, including the Kent Street Weir playground upgrade, a new all-abilities Changing Places facility, $1.1 million in neighbourhood playground renewals and $568,000 in irrigation upgrades across City parks.
• $33.8 million for leisure and recreation facilities, supporting more than 1.5 million annual visits to the City’s Leisureplexes and more than 5,000 weekly learn-to-swim lessons. This includes more than $1 million in gym equipment upgrades across both centres, improvements at Riverton Leisureplex and continued free community programs such as Flow N Go Yoga at Shelley Foreshore. At Whaleback Golf Course, the new Trackman Ball Tracking System will complement the $10.6 million driving range and food and beverage redevelopment commencing in July 2026, supporting the long-term sustainability and commercial return of the precinct.
• $12.7 million for libraries, youth centres, community events and inclusive community spaces, including self-service library equipment upgrades.
• $6.1 million for community and sporting facility upgrades, including Ferndale Pavilion and landscaping works, Wyong Changerooms and renewal works at Merv McIntosh Pavilion, alongside $1 million towards planning and development of the Willetton Sports and Community Facility (Burrendah Precinct Redevelopment), and $22.5 million in secured State and Federal Government funding for the Canning Vale Sports Complex to support year-round community use for soccer, AFL, cricket and athletics.
• $46.9 million for roads and infrastructure, including $2.3 million for new shared paths, $890,000 for footpath renewal and construction, $6.1 million for road safety improvements at four locations, and the Welshpool Road duplication project supported by $4.1 million in State funding.
• $1.5 million in Federal funding for the Rail to River Precinct, with detailed planning underway for ten infrastructure projects aimed at revitalising the City Centre.
• $40.5 million for environmental and waste services, including implementation of the City’s Local Biodiversity Strategy, planting of 1,100 trees and 30,000 tubestock, sustainability rebates, and a broad range of waste and recycling services valued at more than $2,000 per household each year. Services include weekly general waste collection, fortnightly recycling, green waste collections, bulk skip bins, tip passes, on-demand collections and free recycling services for e-waste, paint, batteries and hazardous waste at the Ranford Road Waste Transfer Station.

“We’ve worked hard to ensure this proposed increase is responsible, sustainable and focused on delivering value for our community,” Mayor Hall said.

“The draft Budget is still being refined, and we remain very conscious of ongoing economic volatility and the impact inflation is having on the cost of delivering services. The Budget will be formally considered by Council on 30 June 2026, and between now and then we will continue looking for opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiencies wherever possible.”

“Our focus remains on maintaining the services, facilities and infrastructure our community relies on every day, while continuing to invest in the future of our growing City,” he said.

Community feedback on the proposed differential rates can be submitted online or by post to the City of Canning by 5pm, Monday 15 June 2026. Visit Your Say Canning. All submissions will be considered before final adoption at a Special Council Meeting on 30 June 2026.