Practical, responsible and supporting everyday life
The Shire of Augusta Margaret River has adopted a practical and responsible Budget focused on delivering essential services and maintaining the safe, high-quality facilities and infrastructure that support everyday community life across the Shire.
The 2026-27 Budget includes a $34 million capital works program to renew or upgrade community assets, around $20 million for asset maintenance, as well as continued funding for essential services including waste collection, ranger operations, public health inspections, libraries and sport and recreation facilities.
Shire President Julia Jean-Rice said the Budget reflected Council's commitment to carefully managing the Shire's finances while continuing to deliver the services and facilities that the community relies on.
“There's nothing extravagant about this budget,” said President Jean-Rice.
“It’s focused on the essentials and is the result of rigorous planning to prioritise what matters most and identify how we can reduce costs or improve efficiencies to ensure every ratepayer dollar is spent wisely.
“We’ve also worked incredibly hard to secure almost half of the funding needed for our $34 million capital works program through grants from Federal and State government, as well as contributions taken from property developers.”
Around $16 million of the capital works program will be funded through grants, with a further $9 million coming from developer contributions and shire reserves.
Major areas of capital investment for 2026–27 include:
- $9.335 million for road and bridge renewals and upgrades
- $8.67 million for paths including shared path from Flinders Bay to Leeuwin Road connection
- $4.25 million for waste facilities
- $1.68 million for parks and reserves, including improvements across Margaret River, Augusta, Witchcliffe and Alexandra Bridge
- $1.87 million for community building maintenance and upgrades
- $1.1 million for marine structures and foreshore walls, including the Turner Street Jetty
- $519,000 for carpark upgrades
- $367,000 for drainage improvements.
A further $20 million from the Shire’s operating budget will be invested into the maintenance of community buildings, roads, parks and paths, and $6 million will be allocated to shire reserves to fund future projects.
"In addition to delivering essential services, we’re responsible for maintaining hundreds of community assets, including more than 1,000 kilometres of roads, 140 kilometres of paths, almost 300 parks and reserves, 27 jetties and boat ramps, two libraries, two cemeteries and two recreation centres – to name just a few."
"Investing in the maintenance of our community assets is essential to keep them safe, functional and fit for the future," she said.
"It's also financially responsible because it helps to prevent bigger, more expensive repairs down the track."
Council also adopted the 2026–27 differential rates, which provide around 60 per cent of the Shire's operating revenue. The average residential household will pay an additional $2.48 per week, or approximately $129 per year, representing a 5.6 per cent increase.
"We know many households are doing it tough, so we've worked hard to keep the increase as modest as possible, " President Jean-Rice said.
“However, like organisations across the country, we’re faced with raising operational costs. Construction materials, maintenance, equipment and insurance have all increased well above CPI in recent years.
“The 5.6 per cent rate increase, together with our ongoing efforts to reduce costs and operate efficiently, will help ensure we can continue providing the services, facilities and infrastructure our community relies on."
In response to community feedback, Council also adopted a revised approach to rating hosted short-term rental accommodation (STRA), creating a new differential rating category that sits between residential and tourism properties.
"We received close to two hundred submissions, and the community feedback played an important role in Council's decision-making," said President Jean-Rice.
"It became clear that many hosted STRA operators are local residents renting out a spare room or granny flat to help make ends meet.
“Rather than treating these properties the same as commercial tourism businesses, Council has created a new rating category that better reflects their unique circumstances."
President Jean-Rice said the Shire would also continue advocating for increased State and Federal Government investment to support one of Western Australia's fastest-growing regional communities.
"Advocacy is a long game so we'll continue working with all levels of government to secure the investment our growing community needs, now and into the future."
Residents can learn more about the 2026–27 Budget, including major projects and Budget Q&As here.