I am pleased to present the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale’s 2023/24 Budget.

The Shire’s 2023/24 Budget has a key focus on delivering positive outcomes for our community while recognising the cost of living pressure being experienced by all households.

Like our ratepayers, the Shire has faced increasing costs such as electricity, fuel, construction costs and building materials (among others) as we seek to provide the fundamental services and amenity our community expects from us every day.

This year’s Budget also responds to the community priorities identified in our recent Community Perceptions Survey to ensure the services and projects we deliver are reflective of our community’s aspirations, while minimising the financial impact to ratepayers.

To achieve this, we have identified savings and efficiencies across our organisation as well as securing external grant funding to fund local projects.

One of the key priorities for our community is building a safer and more accessible local roads network. To address this priority, $8.24 million has been included in this year’s Budget to upgrade local roads.

Emergency response is another key priority for our community with a further $2.4 million also allocated to develop the future Oakford Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade Station.

Overall, the 2023/24 Budget provides for local services and facilities that supports a connected and thriving community.

Cr Michelle Rich
Shire President

Budget snapshot 

The Shire’s 2023/24 total Operating Expenditure Budget is $38.37m*. The list below outlines the budget allocated for each service and program area.

*Figures have been rounded to the nearest $10,000. For accounting reasons and for ease of understanding, depreciation and asset disposals (loss) have been removed from the figures listed above. The depreciation and asset disposal (loss) figures are $11 million and can be found in the 2023/24 Statutory Budget.

Delivering against our Strategic Community Plan 

People 

• $2.4m for Oakford Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade Station
• $194,000 for Youth Centre upgrades
• $410,000 to deliver community events and grants programs
• Continued development of Keirnan Park Recreation and Sporting Precinct Stage 1A

Place

• $6.82m to maintain our local parks, ovals and gardens
• $1.9m for Emergency Services and fire prevention
• Develop Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan
• $200,000 to renew and revitalise playgrounds
• Continued development of $800,000 Byford Skate Park Stage 2 upgrades funded by State Government

Prosperity

• $8.24m to upgrade and reseal local roads
• Continue to deliver construction for $18m upgrades to Kargotich, Orton and Soldiers Roads funded by State Government
• Continue to partner with State Government to support delivery of Tonkin Highway Extension and Byford Metronet

Progressive 

• $850,000 to implement property and rating functionality for Shire's OneComm system
• Finalisation of new Council Plan and major review of Corporate Business Plan
• Implementation of 2025 Federal and State Election advocacy priorities
• Administration Building upgrades and future planning for relocation of Council Chambers to old Roads Board Building