Harvey residents set to be slugged with 7 per cent rate rise as council prepares budget

Shire of Harvey residents are set to pay an extra 7 per cent for their residential rates this year. Harvey Shire councillors voted to adopt a revenue and rating plan for the upcoming budget during the ordinary council meeting in late May. The plan — which recommended the 7 per cent increase for more than 11,000 residential properties — was approved by the council in a unanimous vote. It would bring the minimum rate up from $1295 to $1386, a rise of $91 dollars. The figure was derived from the Shire’s long-term financial plan adopted in 2022, which recommended rate rises stay at least 3 per cent above the CPI. This year the CPI was 3.5 per cent. Under the plan, owners of commercial and industrial properties will have their minimum rates rise by 9 per cent, up from $1342 to $1463. Subdivided lots in Kingston, Galway Green, Lakewood Shores and Treendale will all have to pay an extra 4 per cent for their specialised area rates compared to last year. The SAR for lots in the Treendale District Centre will rise 7 per cent. All of the SARs will go towards maintaining the landscape of the common areas in each respective area. According to the adopted revenue and rating plan, rates brought in nearly $25.2 million of income, or 61 per cent of total revenue, for the shire in the 2022-23 financial year. Fees and charges are also set to increase in the coming year by an average of four to 5 per cent. Most notably, residents’ waste charges will increase $35 from last year. This brings the total to $425 each year, while the commercial waste charge is rising $15 to $240. The proposed rate rise and the fees and charges increases will go out for public comment.