Fremantle Leisure Centre among facilities to benefit from Council’s 2024/25 budget

Fremantle Council’s 2024/25 budget balances community's immediate and future needs with provision for facilities such as the Leisure Centre, Library, parks, playgrounds and natural areas.

Investment will also be made in heritage through upgrades to the Town Hall, Fremantle Arts Centre, Moore's Building and Old Fire Station. Improvements to roads, footpaths, lighting, BBQs and public toilets will also be funded.

Prioritising asset renewal, absorbing rising costs and delivering projects and services to benefit everyone in the community are the key themes of the City of Fremantle’s 2024-25 budget.

The City has allocated $110 million to operational costs for delivering facilities and services to the community and $19 million for capital projects over the next financial year.

Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said it was a balanced and responsible budget that delivers for every Fremantle ratepayer adding "This budget strikes a balance between meeting rising costs today and planning for a financially sustainable future.

"Whether you live in the city or our suburbs, or run a local business, you will benefit from this budget.

"We are increasing investment in the maintenance of everyday things that we all use including buildings, parks, roads and footpaths. These assets are worth over $500 million and any delay to their upkeep would present a financial burden for future generations.”

Like most local governments, Fremantle is having to navigate significant increases to the cost-of-service delivery.

To address these significant increases, an average rate rise of 5.4% will be applied.

The income generated by the collection of rates equates to 66% of the City’s total revenue sources in this budget, with a range of other revenue sources such as parking, property, fees & charges and grants contributing to the City’s overall budgeted income.

As well as providing day-to-day facilities and services for the community, this budget remains focused on investing in suburbs, enabling residential development to get more people living in the city as well as attracting city centre investment to build future prosperity.

Key budget highlights:

• $14.3 million towards the operation of our key community facilities including the Fremantle Library, Fremantle Leisure Centre, Fremantle Arts Centre and Fremantle Community Legal Centre

• $10.7 million towards parks, landscapes and natural areas

• $3.2 million for the completion of South Beach Changerooms

• $2.9 million for investment into our heritage through the commencement of upgrades to the Town Hall, Fremantle Arts Centre, Moore's Building and Old Fire Station

• $2 million towards the delivery of arts, culture and festivals

• $2 million towards community safety

• $1 million towards the delivery of upgrades at Samson Park, lighting at Hilton Park (Ken Allen) and continuing to finalise design work for the Hilton Park Masterplan

• $420,000 for design and delivery of public toilet facilities in the CBD

• $350,000 towards coastal adaptation at Port Beach, replacement of the river wall at John Street and natural area fencing in Booyeembara Park

• $310,000 for upgrade of BBQs and provision of additional parking at South Beach

Image. Credit: Fremantle Leisure Centre