Shire of Plantagenet unanimously passes 2023-24 budget, with rates set to rise by an average of 5 per cent

The Plantagenet Shire Council unanimously endorsed its $20 million 2023-24 budget at a meeting on Tuesday night. The new financial year will see an average rate rise of 5 per cent in the Shire, which is similar to the 4.95 per cent increase made by the City of Albany earlier this month. Shire fees will increase by an average of 7 per cent. Shire president Chris Pavlovich said the rate increase was a “modest” one. “It’s a balanced budget that will greater serve the wider community,” he said. “And in following inflation and consumer price indexing, rates have increased by a modest 5 per cent.” The budget saw heavy-hitting projects like the Wilson Park Youth Precinct and the Martin Street subdivision both receive budgets of $150,000. The road construction program, which includes the resealing of Carbarup Road, totals $630,000 in projects carried forward from previous financial years, as well as $1.8 million worth of new road and drainage initiatives. Rocky Gully and Woogenellup will see the construction of two bushfire brigade sheds to the tune of $1,545,000. Community groups and organisations will also receive a share of the budget, with $22,000 going to the Plantagenet Historical Society and $32,000 awarded to Mount Barker Tourism. Cr Jon Oldfield was pleased to see the amounts awarded among the groups. “I think we’ve achieved a good balance to award money to the many worthy groups within the community,” he said.