About rates and how they are used

Anyone owning property and/or commercial enterprises within Shire of Mundaring is required to pay rates.

Rates are necessary for the Shire to provide facilities and services to the community. Services provided to ratepayers include libraries, recreation and sporting facilities, road upgrades, environmental management, community safety, and waste collection facilities.

Council has been thorough and diligent in its planning to ensure value for money is obtained for residents while still achieving expected outcomes for the community.

The overall operating budget of the Shire is $58.3 million for 2023/2024. This is made up of rates income, government funding and fees and charges.

Current global and domestic economic inflation will affect the Shire’s ability to maintain delivery of its services at previous costs and this has played a large part in this year’s budget incorporating a rate increase of 3.5 per cent (plus a 0.5 per cent increase in anticipated number of rateable properties).

Although this increase is significantly less than current inflation, the Shire is able to weather the economic volatility due to prudent financial management of building cash reserves and fixing interest rates on borrowings.

What rates will deliver in 2023/2024

Below is a snapshot of how some of these funds will be allocated to support our community this financial year.

Family and children’s services: $5.75m

Delivery of early childhood and parenting services, funded by government grants and fees.

Libraries: $1.49m

The Shire runs two public libraries in Mundaring and Boya.

Community engagement: $920k

Delivering a community grants program, cultural and artistic events, and skills-based workshops creates a vibrant, connected community.

Making it happen: $5.28m

Delivery of early childhood and parenting services, funded by government grants and fees. Corporate services such as customer service, record keeping and finance. Includes civic/administration building costs, loan interest repayments and depreciation. 

Youth services: $153k

Giving young people a say through The Youth Crew and enabling community groups to provide initiatives through the Youth Engagement Partnership Fund. 

Tourism: $200k

Our Visitor Centre promotes Mundaring and surrounds as an attractive tourist destination in the Perth Hills.

Council Members and Council meetings: $690k

Twelve democratically elected councillors to represent community interests.

Aquatic facilities: $986k

Two public pools, Bilgoman and Mount Helena Aquatic Centres, plus financial support for Wooroloo pool.

Recreation centres: $906k

Including the state-of-the-art Mundaring Arena, Brown Park and Elsie Austin Pavilion.

Bushfire Brigades and fire prevention: $2m

Supporting nine volunteer bushfire brigades; mitigation and education activities to ensure we are bushfire ready.

Health administration/inspections: $426k

Conducting health inspections, managing pests, noise complaints and water quality testing at Lake Leschenaultia and our aquatic facilities.

Animal control: $686k

Promoting responsible pet ownership and working to ensure the safety of our community.

Access for all: $156k

The Shire facilitates an Inclusion and Disability Access Advisory Group, Active Ageing Network and The Hub of the Hills.

Environmental management: $828k

Protecting bushland and watercourses through programs such as Seedlings for Landcare, Mundaring Environmental Art Project, workshops and partnership with Waterwise Council.

Town planning and statutory building services: $1.6m

Developing our strategic planning framework to balance growth while protecting the area’s distinct sense of place. Assessing planning, subdivision and building licences.

Waste management: $8.5m

Operating two Community Recycling Centres in Chidlow and Mundaring; domestic waste and recycling collections and annual bulk and green waste verge collections.

Halls: $940k

The Shire manages and maintains 18 halls which are available for community hire.

Recreation grounds: $3.45m

Including 37 playgrounds, 34 tennis courts, nine BMX jump and skate parks, 11 ovals, 70km Railway Reserves Heritage Trail and 413 hectares public open space.

Street lighting: $725k

The Shire pays Western Power to run and maintain street lighting.

Roads, footpaths, drainage and public works: $5m

Maintaining 681km of roads, 448km of kerbs, 17 bridges, 115 bus shelters, 183km of drainage pipes, 37km of open drains and 135km of footpaths.

 $15.8m Capital Works Program for 2023/24

The Capital Works Program will deliver key projects such as:

  • Conversion of street lighting to LED lights ($1.9M) which over the life of the project will realise financial savings and environmental benefits
  • Introduction/roll-out of FOGO waste services (1.8m)
  • Sawyers Valley Oval reticulation, drainage upgrate ($170,000)
  • Glen Forrest Tennis Club convert lighting to LED ($50,000_
  • Brown Park Community Centre upgrade ($272,000)
  • Brown Park Practice Nets ($100,000)
  • Norris Park BBQ upgrade ($30,000)
  • Lake Leschenaultia enhancements ($436,000)

View or download a copy of your 2023/2024 Rates Pack.