The Town of Cambridge’s 2024/25 Annual Budget was adopted on 6 August 2024. We have kept our 2024/25 rate increase to a modest 3.5 per cent, which is lower than Australia’s annual inflation.
The Town of Cambridge has a strong history of balancing finances with community needs. Over the past eight budgets, average rates per household increased in only four years, generally below the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and among the lowest in the metro area. Only 41 per cent of the Town’s total revenue is generated by rates. This year’s budgeted operating expenditure is $60.3 million. Through extensive workshops with Elected Members and administration staff, we have ensured that our community’s needs are prioritised while providing modern facilities without burdening ratepayers.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to keeping Cambridge green, open, accessible, and well- maintained. We believe in offering both inner-city amenities and a great outdoor lifestyle. As custodians of our beloved natural assets like Perry Lakes, Lake Monger (Galup), our beautiful beaches and many parks and bushland, we take our role seriously in their protection. We are dedicated to achieving sustainable population growth and maintaining our vibrant community. Plans are underway to transform the Quarry Amphitheatre into an iconic performing arts space and redevelop Floreat Surf Life Saving Club. We also focus on addressing global warming and protecting our coastlines.
To celebrate Cambridge's 30th anniversary as a local government area, we will host various events, including the return of the Cambridge Street Festival on 15 March 2025. This family-friendly, free event will bring our community together to celebrate this milestone. Subscribe to our e-news publications to stay updated on neighbourhood happenings.
Quarry Amphitheatre
2024/25 will see the beginning of the implementation of the Quarry Amphitheatre Strategic Plan (2024-2029), which signals a new chapter for this iconic asset and will realise the full potential of the Quarry as a key cultural and commercial asset for the Town.
Under the Strategic Plan, the Quarry Amphitheatre site and equipment will be upgraded to allow the venue to provide a professional standard, quality experience for patrons and hirers while enhancing and leveraging its natural surroundings. In 2024/25 the focus is on resourcing the physical and human requirements of the Quarry. This will include design of a commercial kitchen for the venue, issuing of an Expression of Interest for a café at the venue, and the employment of a dedicated venue manager who will drive revenue for the venue and identify new business opportunities.
You can experience the magic of the Quarry by hiring the venue for your next function or corporate event, or by joining us for one of the amazing performances. The Quarry Amphitheatre has something for everyone.
Disability Access & Inclusion Plan (DAIP)
The Town is dedicated to exploring ways to eliminate barriers to access and promote inclusivity.
Through our DAIP, we aim to ensure everyone has equal access to the information, services, facilities, and programs provided by the Town of Cambridge.
In 2024/25, our focus on improving and upgrading our community facilities to ensure universal access for all members of our community continues. This includes disability access works at the Lake Monger Recreation Club and the finalisation of upgrades to the toilets and changerooms at Sydney Cheek Pavilion.
The Town will also continue to improve our documents and communication channels to ensure information is available and accessible to all members of our community. This includes the development of ‘Easy Read’ versions of our key corporate documents and plans – beginning with the Disability Access and Inclusion Plan. The Town is also developing ‘Social Stories’ to help neurodivergent community members to better enjoy our community facilities such as Bold Park Aquatic, Cambridge Library, and Wembley Golf Course.
Community Events 2024/25
In 2024/25, the Town will once again deliver a range of community events that provide opportunities for all parts of our community to come together, connect and celebrate.
Whether it is dancing the afternoon away at our Sunset music events, getting into the festive season at Carols by the Lake on International Day of Disability or making a splash at Bold Park Aquatic Centre’s Celebrate Summer event, there is something for everyone. The highlight of our events program will be the special 30th anniversary Cambridge Street Festival on 15 March 2025. This free, family friendly festival will provide a range of activities, entertainment, and food vendors all celebrating what makes living in Cambridge great. Don’t miss it!
For further information, keep an eye on the Town’s Community Events page.
Cambridge Library
The Cambridge Library continues to make a vital contribution to the social, cultural and learning development of our community. It provides access to information, technology, and community spaces for all members of the community.
In 2024/25, the Library will develop a new five-year Strategic Plan for consideration by Council, to coincide with the Library’s 60th Anniversary in 2025. The Plan will work to rejuvenate and improve the physical spaces of the Library over that time. This plan will ensure the Library can continue to serve our community well into the future.
2024 also marks the 20th anniversary of the Town’s Local History collection. You can explore our collection of photos, memorabilia, and stories of times past any time you visit the library, as well as online.
Click here for links to videos, family history resources, and our popular local history blog.
Waste Fees & Charges
This year's rates notice will reflect an increase in your waste charges for 2024/25 due to rising costs for the collection and disposal of organic, general waste, and recyclable materials. While the Town has subsidised recycling collection costs for years, increased costs mean we can no longer fully subsidise the yellow-lid recycling bin. A modest charge has been added this year, though the Town still partially subsidises this service.
From 1 July, the Town introduced a FOGO (Food Organics Garden Organics) service for single residential dwellings, to move the Town towards meeting our waste reduction targets. About 55 per cent of waste in your red-lid general waste bin is organic and can be diverted away from landfills. In line with the FOGO service, your red-lid bin is now collected fortnightly and your green-lid FOGO bin is collected weekly.
If you ordered a green-lid FOGO bin or changed your waste services after 1 July (or your bin was delivered to you after 1 July), the charges will not appear on your annual Rate Notice. We will only charge you from the date the bin is delivered. The annual fee will be pro rata from the date of delivery to 30 June 2025. Please pay your annual rates notice as issued. After the due date of your annual Rate Notice, we will issue an interim rate notice showing your requested waste service changes and charges.
You can learn more about FOGO and reducing your waste here.
Sustainability
The Town of Cambridge is a Gold-awarded Waterwise Council.
The Town’s largest sites use 100 per cent renewable energy through a WALGA contract in cooperation with more than 40 other Local Governments.
In 2024/25, the Town will continue with our Green Fleet Transition Program, replacing Town pool and Ranger vehicles with fully electric vehicles with charging stations to be installed at the Town’s Administration Centre and the Works Depot.
The Federal Arena funding program, in conjunction with WALGA, will enable the installation of electric vehicle charging stations across the State, which will help support a sustainable fleet transition in the Town of Cambridge.
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Upcoming FY24/25 Projects
In this financial year, we are continuing to improve our lighting for safety and energy efficiency with new LED floodlighting for Cambridge Bowling Club, Floreat Park Tennis Club, Cambridge Croquet Club, Matthews Netball Centre, and City Beach Park.
We are also investing in our local parks with Park upgrade projects at Birkdale Park, Tara Vista Park, and Kingsland Park, new playgrounds for Donegal Park, Jubilee Park, and Ocean Mia Park, and a new mindfulness exercise facility at Rutter Park.
Other projects include:
- Rebuild of Wembley Oval
- Maintenance for City Beach Groyne and Seawall
- Continuation of Floreat Beach Masterplan
- Detailed design of Perry Lakes Playground (image above)
Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB)
The polyphagous shot-hole borer, an exotic wood-boring beetle, has been spreading across Perth since August 2021, posing a significant threat to our urban canopy.
PSHB damages host trees by excavating tunnels and cultivating a Fusarium fungus, which eventually kills the tree. The Town is collaborating with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to monitor and address the situation. Click here for more info.
Urban Forest Strategy
During the first six months of the 2024/25 financial year, the Town will undertake a review of its Urban Forest Strategy. This strategy will help guide the Town and its officers to achieve goals to help increase the canopy cover, increase vegetation diversity and improve resilience to future issues.
The Town maintains 477 hectares of open space, including sports grounds, garden beds, irrigated areas, bushland, coastal dunes, lakes, and wetlands, offering diverse outdoor experiences.
Our irrigation system covers 190 hectares, including parks and public facilities.
Park infrastructure includes 46 playgrounds, 28 barbecues, 37km of fencing, 578 pieces of furniture, 396 lights, 323 signs, two volleyball courts, 11 cricket facilities, 2 ocean groynes, and six shower facilities.
The Town manages 24,788 trees, with 13,421 on-road reserves.
To accelerate tree planting within the town and increase our urban forest canopy cover, the Town will plant an additional 1,000 trees during FY24/25.
*All figures above exclude Wembley Golf Course, Bold Park Aquatic, and Bold Park Reserve.
Future Focused Cambridge
Wembley Oval Rebuild
The Town is replacing the turf at Wembley Oval due to a Sting Nematode infestation and drainage issues from carpark runoff. This project aims to improve the turf for AFL games, enhance resilience, reduce watering demand, and increase the oval's usage.
Lake Monger (Galup) Management Plan
This plan is under review to guide the site’s strategic management over the next decade. Developed with Traditional Owners and Knowledge Holders, the plan meets heritage requirements and improves environmental outcomes.
Foreshore Management Plan
A key recommendation of the Coastal Hazard Risk Management Adaptation Plan 2022 is to develop a Foreshore Management Plan (FMP). The FMP will be developed over the next two years and will guide future management of the Town’s coastal areas.
Floreat Beach Masterplan
The Town has begun community engagement to assess uses, constraints, and opportunities for Floreat Beach. A detailed plan will be developed to improve pedestrian connectivity, traffic flow, and visitor experience.