Collie Shire president Wayne Sanford said the increase represented a reasonable increase in the context of the current environment and how it may affect the community. “It also recognises, however, that the cost of doing our business is increasing,” he said.

Shire chief executive Jason Whiteaker said the four per cent rates increase meant more than 92 per cent of ratepayers could expect an increase of $50 or less in the 2009/10 financial year.

He said a large portion of the remaining eight per cent was represented by blocks that were built on during the 2008/09 year, thus changing their valuation mid-year.

“You end up with the challenging situation that depending on valuation fluctuations, you may have properties which go up more than the quoted percentage and others which go up less. You even have circumstances where the rates go down,” he said.

While the increase was relatively low, the council’s overall budget represented a significant increase in overall expenditure, Cr Sanford said.

Budget highlights include Thros-sell Street parking redesign, retiling and an upgrade to the ablutions and entrance to the swimming pool, upgrade of the overhead railway bridge, $378,000 to start the Collie River Revitalisation Plan and $850,000 towards the start of the CBD Revitalisation Plan.

It also includes a $3.1 million road construction program, $70,000 to Collie Visitor Centre, closed circuit television (CCTV) in the CBD, a review of waste management practices and $44,000 for community grants to be offered in two separate funding rounds.

Lastly, a feasibility study to open an art gallery in Collie, $10,000 to Motoring SouthWest (for Collie Motorplex), $20,000 to Meals on Wheels and the relocation of the council depot to the light industrial area.

Cr Sanford said many major projects would be funded from external sources, such as the State Govern-ment’s Royalties for Regions, which have allowed the council to implement many plans it has been developing over the past two years.