Council accepts 'disciplined' $75.7m budget

Bunbury City Council adopted its 2015/16 Budget within six minutes after no debate and little opposition.

Except for Cr Karen Steele and Cr Michelle Steck, councillors at a special meeting on Thursday night supported the 10 individual items that made up this year's $75.7 million Budget.

The council agreed to increase rates by 3.5 per cent in order to meet the growing cost of providing services that include maintaining roads, parks, gardens and playgrounds.

Mayor Gary Brennan described it as a "disciplined" Budget designed to cater for growth and deliver new projects.

These projects include the Hay Park Multi-Sports Pavilion, the first stage of the water playground and replacing 600m of Koombana Drive.

The bill to repair the major road and the George Baxter Boardwalk that runs alongside it has been costed at $4 million.

"The city has responded to the deteriorating state of Koombana Drive and the George Baxter Boardwalk by moving ahead with works on this important asset at the earliest opportunity," Mr Brennan said.

"It forms just one part of yet another significant investment in the city's infrastructure that we have an obligation to ensure is maintained to a high level."

The council has also agreed to borrow $2.36 million to spend on five projects - including the water playground ($1 million), the roadworks ($100,000) and upgrades to Bunbury Airport ($360,000). The council will continue with previous pledges to design and build the State Emergency Service headquarters and a new animal care facility to replace its ageing pound.

About $2 million has been allocated towards stormwater improvements across Bunbury, including the Horseshoe Lake catchment.

"These are important projects that are among the core responsibilities of local government and as a city, we are proud to be able to deliver them," Mr Brennan said.