The City of Greater Geraldton Council has agreed to increase rates by 3.6 per cent while giving financial support to verge-side rubbish collection and direct flights to the Pilbara.

Mayor Shane Van Styn said the rate rise was fair given the tough economic environment. 

"We will have to raise rates by 3.6 per cent, half the rate of inflation, taking in account that steel products have increased by 70 per cent, [and] bitumen and concrete, all the things we use for roads and paths, are up 50 per cent. Civil contracts are up 100 per cent,"  Mr Van Styn said.

"Due to sound financial management, we have been able to hold rate movements below the rate of inflation."

Flights support

The council has given the green light for the next steps for potential flights from Geraldton to the Pilbara.

The West Australian state government allocated $4.1 million in financial support to Aviair to further expand the Inter Regional Flight Network (IRFN) and include flights between Geraldton and Karratha.

The IRFN currently operates between the ports of Karratha, Newman, Port Hedland and Broome and each council is required to contribute.

"We are still looking towards other councils that are a part of this to make their contribution," Mr Van Styn said.

"It does involve a longer four- to five-year business case looking at how to increase the capacity on the network."

He said if the project proceeds the flights would provide a big benefit to the region.

"Not necessarily just for miners and FIFO workers, but also for cleaners and cooks, and everyone in between who can access those high paying jobs in the Pilbara and then return and live a great lifestyle in Geraldton."

Bulk rubbish pick up

Verge-side collections will return for bulk rubbish after some years of skip bins being available on request only.  

"The verge pick-up will be an annual program that will begin rolling from the next financial year," Mr Van Styn said.

"Along with the annual verge pick-up, it is free for ratepayers to drop residential waste at the tip, but we understand that not everyone has access to trailers and four-wheel drives.

"It is a way to ensure that people have a big yard clean up once a year and keeps our town ultimately looking spick and span."