Published on Monday, 27 July 2026 at 9:42:05 AM
The Shire of Murray Council has endorsed its 2026/27 budget; outlining it’s ongoing investment in essential services, strategic projects and long-term community infrastructure to help make Murray an outstanding place for community, lifestyle and opportunity.
Shire President, Douglas McLarty, said the budget strikes a balance between meeting the needs of today's community and planning responsibly for the future.
“While the annual budget delivers great outcomes in the here and now, it also ensures we continue to maintain our assets and invest in opportunities that will benefit Murray in the years ahead,” said President McLarty.
Through the budget, the Shire will fund a wide range of services and projects aligned to the Shire’s five strategic pillars: people, planet, place, prosperity and performance.
In addition to its business as usual service, the Shire will invest in a breadth of important projects. These include new firefighting water tanks and bushfire mitigation to strengthen emergency preparedness, continued investment in the Edenvale Heritage Precinct through landscape improvements and restoration of the Schoolmasters House Veranda, conservation works at the Pinjarra Railway Buildings, upgrades to recreational boating infrastructure at Batavia Quays, and improvements to community facilities including the South Yunderup Oval carpark.
The budget will also allow Murray Community Resource Centre services to continue, support planning for the future Murray Library and continued enhancement of the Murray Aquatic and Leisure Centre, including the introduction of a sauna and Pilates studio while designs for a future upgrade are completed.
In addition, there’s funding dedicated to environmental initiatives such as shoreline adaptation projects and ongoing monitoring of coastal hazards, particularly in the Murray Delta Islands.
Another major investment will be in the Shire’s road networks. Major road projects will be undertaken on Del Park Road, Lakes Road, Hopelands Road, Paterson Road, Burnside Road, South Yunderup Road, Old Mandurah Road, Old Bunbury Road, George Beacham Road and Culeenup Road (East), supported by ongoing resealing, resheeting and traffic management programs across Murray.
As part of the budget, Council has adopted an overall rate increase of 4.95 percent; an increase of around 17.8% lower than CPI growth since 2020. The total CPI increase since 2020 has been 28.41%. The Shire’s 4.95% rate increase this year brings the total rate increase since 2020 to 23.34%.
In setting the rate increase, Council carefully considered the rising cost of delivering services and maintaining infrastructure, while remaining mindful of the financial pressures facing households and businesses.
"While we are acutely aware of the cost-of-living pressures facing our community, Council also has a responsibility to ensure the Shire remains financially sustainable into the future,” said Shire President McLarty.
"Throughout the budget process, we have diligently scrutinised expenditure, prioritised projects and services, and identified efficiencies wherever possible to ensure we are managing ratepayer funds responsibly.
“The reality is that local governments are facing substantial increases in operating cost, the cost of powering the Shire's streetlights alone is forecast to increase by 5.72 per cent in 2026/27. It would be irresponsible to ignore such pressures or defer essential investment and leave future generations to bear the cost,” added Mr McLarty.
“Community expectations are always at the forefront of Council decisions. With a budget that is aligned closely to our Council Plan, we have great confidence we are investing appropriately in community aspirations.”
The Shire of Murray is proud of its strong commitment to sustainable and transparent financial management. The Shire was recently named among the Top 10 Councils in terms of financial performance by the Auditor-General. It does not have any end of year deficits in its Long-Term Financial Plan in any of the next 10 years.
ENDS
Highlight Projects
• North Pinjarra Playground and Recreation Space upgrade: $800,0001
• Stage One South Yunderup Oval Carpark: $750,0002
• Edenvale/St Johns Church Toilets: $728,2451
• Murray Delta Islands Foreshore Management and Adaptation: $662,9055
• Pathway Construction and Renewals: $528,674
• Pinjarra Railway Buildings Conservation: $400,2892
• South Yunderup Oval Lights: $368,565
• Waterways Renewal: $339,065
• Parks Renewal: $254,705
• Bushfire Mitigation: $250,0003
• Coolup Road East Bridge: $250,000
• Firefighting Water Tanks: $200,0002
• Batavia Quays Boating Facility: $200,0004
• Edenvale Landscape Works: $215,000
• Drainage Works: $161,849
• Murray Aquatic Leisure Centre designs for expansion: $150,000
• Community Storage Shed (Sir Ross McLarty Oval): $130,000
• Pinjarra Cemetery Picket Fence Replacement: $110,000
• Murray Community Resource Centre and Department of Transport Vehicle and Licencing Services activation: $100,000
• Future new Murray Library Redevelopment Plans: $137,844
• Murray Aquatic Leisure Centre Vending Machine, Pilates Studio and Sauna: $84,260
• Schoolmasters House Veranda Works: $75,000
• Heritage Building Conservation Works: $50,000
• Footpath - Humphrey Street, Pinjarra: $50,000
• Jolly Rambler Boulevard remedial works: $40,000
• Cantwell Park Picket Fence Replacement: $35,000
• Shoreline Adaptations: $25,000
• Coastal Hazard Risk Mitigation and Adaptation Plan Annual Monitoring: $20,000
• Heritage Buildings Conservation Plan: $15,000
• Goal Posts - Montgomery Park: $7,500
1 Funded by Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
2 Supported by Alcoa
3 Funded by Department of Fire and Emergency Services
4 Funded by Department of Transport
5 Supported by Government of Western Australia
Major Roads Program (2/3rds funded by Main Roads)
• Del Park Road: $ 630,000
• Lakes Road: $750,000
• Hopelands Road: $375,000
• Paterson Road: $90,000
• Burnside Road: $375,000
• South Yunderup Road: $344,007
• Old Mandurah Road: $150,000
• Old Bunbury Road: $375,000
Roads to Recovery Roads Projects (fully funded by the Australian Government)
• Culeenup Road (East): $200,000
• George Beacham: $561,882
• Resheeting Program: $100,000
• Resealing: $324,320
Other Funded Roadworks (fully funded by WA Government)
• Munday Avenue: $743,084
A further $820,961 is committed to other resealing, resheeting and traffic management works across the Murray network.
Rates
• 4.95% overall rate increase
• As part of the budget, Council has adopted an overall rate increase of 4.95 percent; an increase of around 17.8% lower than CPI growth since 2020. The total CPI increase since 2020 has been 28.41%. The Shire’s 4.95% rate increase this year brings the total rate increase since 2020 to 23.34%.
Revenue
• Rates: $25,322,251
• Operating Grants and Contributions: $3,415,687
• Fees and Charges: $9,171,505
• Interest Earnings: $1,340,624
• Other Revenue: $695,994
• Non-Operating Grants and Contributions: $11,930,458
• Reserve Transfers: $8,410,820
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