Shire of Augusta-Margaret River revenue project identifies actions to ease pain on ratepayers

An in-house project team looking for more ways to generate income is likely to tell Shire of Augusta-Margaret River councillors the local government needs to tighten its belt, seek out more grant opportunities, and lobby State Government to relax legislation around fees, charges and rating exemptions for charities and religious groups.

The revenue diversification project which formed in April has delivered its preliminary draft findings to elected members. A copy of the report seen by the Times noted outside avenues to make more money would require major outlays to get up and running.

While other local governments including City of Busselton and City of Perth had assets such as the jetty and major carparks to generate revenue streams, outlay for those sites was prohibitive.

The project team conducted a desktop exercise examining what other jurisdictions were doing countrywide, and looked at existing research into the dilemma of how to balance operating costs without heaping pressure on electors.

One recommendation to flow from the draft report was a review of the shire’s existing land asset management plan which includes local government-owned properties for potential market disposal or redevelopment.

Other measures floated in the plan include a revision of shire rating categories, developing a holiday parks and campground strategy, and continued advocacy for State and Federal reforms on supports to local government particularly for issues such as road maintenance.

The draft report also revealed the shire has no system in place to co-ordinate or drive grant applications, leaving each business unit to make its own bids which could be in conflict with each other.

The review also identified the creep of rating exemptions for State, Federal, religious and charitable institutions seen as limiting income needed to maintain infrastructure and services.