Delivering within capacity and mitigating financial exposure are two key areas of focus addressed by the City of Fremantle’s 2026-27 budget, while continuing to renew assets, green the city and improve amenity for the community.
Delivering within capacity and mitigating financial exposure are two key areas of focus addressed by the City of Fremantle’s 2026-27 budget, while continuing to renew assets, green the city and improve amenity for the community.
The new, financially responsible budget, adopted by Fremantle Council on Wednesday night, balances the flexibility to respond to global economic volatility with the ability to deliver on the objectives of the City’s long-term financial plan.
The City has allocated $100 million to operational costs for delivering facilities and services to the community and $22.5 million for capital projects and renewal over the next financial year.
Approximately 60 per cent of the capital projects budget is for projects outside the city centre, demonstrating the City’s ongoing focus on investment in the suburbs.
Fremantle Mayor Ben Lawver said the budget is about delivering for today without compromising tomorrow.
“This budget has been developed with the community’s interests at its core. It strikes an important balance between maintaining essential services, investing in key priorities, and ensuring our finances remain on a sustainable path.
“This budget reflects a balanced and responsible approach that invests in the services our community relies on while maintaining a strong focus on long-term financial sustainability.
“I’m pleased to see a budget that prioritises practical outcomes, careful financial management, and continued investment in the infrastructure and services that support our growing community,” Mayor Lawver said.
In 2026-27, the City will pay particular attention to the ongoing refinement of its capital program to more closely reflect its operational capacity to deliver, ensuring it plans for the projects coming up in the following year as well as continuing to make contributions to the City’s reserves to mitigate the City’s exposure to current economic volatility.
The City is anticipating and planning for increases to the cost-of-service delivery but also acknowledges that parts of the community are facing ongoing cost of living pressures.
Considering that, the City has decided to contain the average rate rise to 5.5 per cent. Council has also modified the Financial Hardship Policy to remove fees from instalment payment for eligible and approved ratepayers.
The income generated by the collection of rates equates to 63 per cent 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.
Budget highlights
Operational expenditure highlights include:
- $15.2m towards the operation of our key community facilities including the Fremantle Library, Fremantle Leisure Centre, Fremantle Arts Centre and Fremantle Community Legal Centre *much of which is offset by their generated income and revenue
- $12.7m towards parks, landscapes and natural areas
- $10.1m towards the delivery of waste and resource recovery initiatives
- $7.3m towards the ongoing maintenance of our buildings and facilities
- $3.2m towards the delivery of economic development, business support, tourism marketing, visitor servicing and investment attraction initiatives
- $2.2m towards the delivery of arts, culture and festivals
- $2.2m towards community safety
Capital project expenditure highlights include:
- $4.7m for Hilton Park Master Plan Projects
- $1.55m for Samson Park Master Plan Projects
- $1.11m for drainage works at Fremantle Sailing Club and Johannah Street
- $600K for pedestrian crossings at Douro Road and South Terrace roundabout
- $300K for drainage works at the Town Hall
- $250K for forward works on South Beach dog beach toilets
- $220K for electrical upgrades at the Old Fire Station
- $200K for public toilets at Pioneer Park
- $25K for floodlights at Fremantle Park
Capital renewal expenditure highlights include:
- $4.1m for roads and road safety
- $1.4m for plant, equipment and vehicles
- $1.12m for footpaths
- $917K for buildings
- $715K for playgrounds
- $483K for irrigation
- $350K for drainage
- $260K for bike projects
- $250K for street lighting
- $250K for asbestos removal
