City of Canning’s Better Budget: Delivering today. Investing in tomorrow.

At its Ordinary Council Meeting on 20 May 2025, the City of Canning Council considered its proposed differential rates for the 2025 – 2026 financial year.

The draft Budget has been shaped by priorities identified through the Living in Canning community survey, with residents highlighting the importance of community safety, parks and leisure, improved transport infrastructure, environmental care and opportunities for people to come together and connect. Whilst the full Budget will not be presented to Council until July, legislative requirements mean that the proposed differential rate must be advertised well ahead of the Budget's formal adoption.

“Our community has been clear about what matters to them - and this draft Budget responds,” said City of Canning Mayor Patrick Hall. “It’s balanced and responsible, and it delivers the services that our community relies on today, while making thoughtful investments that will benefit future generations.”

The draft 2025 – 2026 Budget totals $207.65 million and includes $19.85 million in State and Federal Government funding, helping to reduce the rate increase required to deliver on community expectations.

Canning is currently one of the lowest rating Councils in metropolitan Perth – 18.1% lower on average than its benchmarked local governments. This is not sustainable in the current economic climate and presents ongoing challenges in maintaining service levels, renewing ageing infrastructure and meeting rising costs.

“Our low rating base is a legacy of the past, making it challenging to maintain our existing facilities and Leisureplexes, and to continue to adequately invest in new clubrooms and community infrastructure to meet growing community demand. We’ve made real progress over the past three years and the draft Budget strengthens our commitment to deliver better facilities and better services.”

“Canning continues to offer significant value for money, delivering an enviable lifestyle and amenity for our growing and diverse community,” Mayor Hall said. “We know our community wants to see their rates at work. From new playgrounds to increased tree planting, from well-maintained streets to more local events, we’re investing in improvements that residents can see and experience.”

The draft Budget maintains Canning’s position as a low rating Council. However, like many households, the City is facing rising costs – driven by increased utility and service provider charges, wage obligations under our industrial agreement, and the growing cost of maintaining and upgrading ageing infrastructure.

“Every service costs more to deliver – from waste and recycling to maintaining parks and running community centres,” Mayor Hall said. “Despite these challenges, we’re committed to delivering significant value for money – maintaining the places people use every day, like our Leisureplexes, playgrounds and sporting reserves, while continuing to invest in the long-term liveability of Canning.”

“Above all, this Budget focuses on what matters most – the everyday services and spaces our community relies on,” Mayor Hall said. “We’re not just maintaining our City; we’re building it for the future.”

The proposed Budget includes an average rate increase of $1.69 per week for residential ratepayers with a 50% discount for pensioners – reflecting a differential rate of 6.85%.

Key investments in the draft 2025–2026 Budget include:

• $5.4 million for community safety services – including expanded CCTV coverage and continued delivery of the popular Security Incentive Scheme.
• $33.2 million to maintain and improve parks, playgrounds, urban forests and sporting reserves, including $4.6 million for playground renewals.
• $30.8 million to manage and maintain our recreational facilities, supporting more than 1.5 million annual visits to the City’s Leisureplexes and delivering upgrades to our much-loved Whaleback Golf Course – ensuring our facilities remain accessible, modern and inclusive.
• $8.6 million to support libraries, youth centres, community events and inclusive spaces where people connect, learn and belong.
• $4.4 million to provide, expand and improve our community and club facilities.
• $35.1 million to maintain and upgrade roads and infrastructure, ensuring safe, accessible and well-maintained transport networks across Canning.
• $24.7 million for waste and recycling – including initiatives that support sustainability and reduce energy use and carbon emissions.

“We’ve worked hard to ensure the rate increase is both sustainable and responsible, while continuing to invest in the services and facilities our community values most,” Mayor Hall said. “The draft Budget is still being finalised. Between now and its adoption by Council in July, we will keep looking to identify further cost savings.”

“We will continue to invest in the services and facilities our community values most, and we intend to deliver a budget that allows us to maintain essential services, plan for future growth, and invest in the infrastructure and programs that make Canning such a great place to live.”

Community feedback on the proposed differential rates can be submitted online or by post to the City of Canning by 5pm, 16 June 2025. Visit Your Say Canning. All submissions will be considered before final adoption at a Special Council Meeting on 1 July 2025.