WA’s land information services look set to be put on the market for a multibillion-dollar price in a State Budget that will hit households with higher utility costs.

With Treasurer Ben Wyatt preparing to hand down his second Budget on Thursday, it is understood a key measure will be the privatisation of Landgate’s land title registry.

Miners are also expected to be shaken down through the expansion of a little-known training levy to the sector.

As previously flagged by The Weekend West, water charges are likely to be restructured to ensure the biggest users pay progressively more in a bid to shield middle and low-income households.

And costs of living headlined by utility charges will rise by an average of about $300 a year from July, with electricity tariffs forecast to increase by 7 per cent and water 6 per cent.

The sale of Landgate is looming as a crucial component of the Budget, with the agency tipped to fetch up to $2 billion from potential buyers on the open market.

Mr Wyatt has previously said the cash-strapped State Government would investigate a possible sale to see whether it was in taxpayers’ best interests.

In February, Mr Wyatt and Lands Minister Rita Saffioti appointed consultancy Investec as a commercial adviser to help with the process after the British firm led the successful move to sell South Australia’s land title registry for $1.6 billion last year.

Investec is also acting as adviser to the Government on the potential sale of betting agency, the TAB.

Although Mr Wyatt declined to confirm the plans, it is believed potential buyers are lining up for a tilt at Landgate, while consulting firms are jockeying for advisory work should any sale go ahead.

Another measure already telegraphed that is expected to be included in the Budget is the extension of a levy used to fund training and apprenticeships.

The Building and Construction Industry Training Fund levy is currently applied to “all residential, commercial and civil engineering projects” valued at more than $20,000 at a rate of 0.2 per cent of the total cost of works.

Miners have long been exempt from the levy.

However, Training Minister Sue Ellery has signalled changes and it is understood the Budget will lock in plans to remove the exemption, raising millions of dollars in extra cash on top of the $32 million a year now generated.

Association of Mining and Exploration Companies chief executive Warren Pearce said the sector was expecting the removal of the exemption but wanted to discuss with Government the details of any change.

Mr Pearce said a 0.2 per cent levy on resources projects would raise big amounts of money and AMEC was keen to ensure there were caps and thresholds.